What is the OECD? 
The OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), headquartered in Paris, was founded as a successor organisation of the Marshall Plan in 1961. Austria was one of its founding members. It is primarily an economic organisation and observes global economic development.
It is also involved with issues of sustainability, education ("PISA Study"), development cooperation, public administration, and the environment. The OECD currently has 31 member states (May 2010). The last accession country was Chile (May 2010). Another three countries (Israel, Estonia, Slovenia) are designated to become member countries by May 27, 2010.As an international organisation, it is financed by the membership contributions of its member countries. It also has a few sister organisations, such as the International Energy Agency, the Club du Sahel and the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation.
The topics of the OECD are discussed in committees and working groups composed of representatives of the member states. The results are introduced into the national policy initiatives. Especially the economic indicators of the OECD and the criticisms and recommendations on existing policies, usually presented in the country reports, are also sought after by the media and generally arouse great public interest.
For more details, see the PowerPoint presentation below.
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Präsentation OECD (PPT 228 kB )
11.05.2010, Lebensministerium III/3