An intergovernmental organisation (based in Paris, France) which provides a forum for discussion and cooperation among the governments of industrialised countries committed to democracy and the market economy. The primary goal of the OECD and its member countries is to support sustainable economic growth, boost employment, raise living standards, maintain financial stability, assist other countries?economic development, and contribute to growth in world trade. In addition, the OECD is a reliable source of comparable statistics and economic and social data. The OECD also monitors trends, analyses and forecasts economic developments, and researches social changes and evolving patterns in trade, environment, agriculture, technology, taxation, and other areas.