OECD urges affordable housing, student grants

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New data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of which Latvia is a member, draws attention to large variations in unemployment in the country according to region and says more should be done to provide affordable housing in its latest economic outlook.

"Economic growth is projected to remain strong and broad-based. Exports are strengthening as prospects in EU countries and Russia are improving. Stronger exports and EU structural fund transfers are boosting investment. High wage growth will underpin household consumption. Unemployment is projected to fall only gradually due to skill and regional mismatches between workers and jobs. The current account deficit is projected to increase as strong domestic demand boosts imports," the OECD said.

Increasing the supply of affordable housing would enable low-income workers to move to areas with better job opportunities. Providing more generous grants to students from low-income families attending vocational schools and universities would boost productivity and inclusiveness, it added. 

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"Exempting poor households from high co-payments for health care and avoiding the cut back of publicly funded health-care programs towards the end of the year would reduce risks of poverty. More generous grants for students from low income families attending vocational schools and universities would alleviate skill shortages," the organization advised.

Private sector indebtedness has fallen below the OECD average, and house prices have risen only in line with household income.

Read the full overview of Latvia in the attachment.

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