This is the latest entry into the 50-strong group of OECD and non-OECD countries, with Uruguay being the 10th member from the Latin America and Caribbean region. The centre helps decision-makers find policy solutions to stimulate growth and improve living conditions in developing and emerging economies.
Pierre Duquesne, the chair of the OECD Development Centre’s governing board and France’s ambassador to the OECD, said: “[Uruguay] has remarkable experience in balancing growth and social inclusion and in experimenting with policy innovations.
“We can only be enthusiastic about the rich opportunities for knowledge sharing and policy dialogue that accompany its accession.”
Uruguay is an active participant in a number of centre initiatives including an ongoing review process that offers perspectives on well-being indicators, quality of life and structural and macroeconomic trends.
In addition, while not an OECD member, the country is also cooperates with the group on several activities such as its Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.
Since a banking and financial crisis in 2002, Uruguay has seen the longest period of sustained growth in decades, accompanied by improvements in income distribution and poverty reduction. After the 2008 financial crisis, the country managed to avoid recession and growth projections continue to be promising.
