Quotes from Jose Angel Gurria

I was an economist out of the National University of Mexico, where you lived the realities of Mexico all the time.

The idea that if governments open up and become more democratic they will fall is a false dilemma.

Ensuring a better future for all South Africans will require increased access to higher education, a stronger and fairer labour market, deeper participation in regional markets, and a regulatory framework that fosters entrepreneurship and allows small businesses to thrive.

We are totally schizophrenic. We are trying to reduce emissions, and we subsidize the consumption of fossil fuels.

Every single stage of reform becomes more difficult because you use political capital.

Everywhere, you have a fatigue for reform... that's very serious.

Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into longer-term, illiquid assets.

The OECD deals with the economic aspects of a host of issues, including education, health, and the environment.

Ending our reliance on fossil fuels was never going to be easy.

It is not good to cut exports or imports.

The euro is going to continue to be the largest single trading block.

Integrity delivers better lives.

There is no reason for women to trail behind men in social, economic, and political outcomes.

To give students the best possible chance to succeed, education must prepare them to handle issues that transcend national boundaries.

Transparency and effective tax co-operation must be shared principles applied by all. Until they are, nations will need to protect themselves against loss of revenues to tax havens.

Principles of fair and equitable treatment included in many treaties are uncontroversial as general principles of good public governance.

One of the greatest challenges of democracies today is the question of financing campaigns. It's a tremendous challenge. Obviously I think the solution is to have the governments pay for all the campaigns and not to have any private contributions.

In the face of sluggish growth, aging societies, and increasing educational attainment of young women, the economic case for gender equality is clear.

The OECD should respond directly to the specific needs of the member countries. You basically say, 'What works?' You don't have to go on a discovery trip. It's all there; you just call them, and they know. It's like a knowledge bank.

We are dealing with the greater challenges of globalisation. It is generating, in many cases, an increase in the levels of inequality in societies... that is undesirable.

Gender equality is essential for ensuring that men and women can contribute fully at home, at work, and in public life for the betterment of societies and economies at large.

When a large financial institution is allowed to fail, you put in jeopardy hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people.

We need to achieve zero emissions from fossil fuel sources by the second half of the century. That doesn't mean by 2050 exactly, but it means by that time we need to be pretty much on the way to achieving it.

The home is the planet. Unless you're a Martian, you know, we're sharing the planet. And - and the emissions don't stop and CO2 doesn't stop with the border between France, Spain or between Canada and the United States.