Ryan Bridge: The OECD's report needs to be taken with a grain of salt

It's somewhat ironic the latest lecture we're getting from an office of global boffins is headquartered in Paris.

No offence to the French, but they're screaming out for lesson in basic economics.

Their debt-to-GDP ratio is 118%. Their debt is 60% above the EU limit.

You're used to hearing about the Italians and the Greeks, but the French are up there with them in the top three most indebted nations in the bloc.

The country nearly fell over trying to cut back pension spending. They spend billions on stuff we'd consider 'nice-to-haves'.

The OECD is a multi-nation group; it just happens to be based in Paris. It's been around since 1961.

But they've come up with a bunch of stuff they think we need to do, including linking pensions to life expectancy. This is the same group that wanted us, a few years back, to tax property and shares!

They're also saying we should have quotas for women on company boards, which even Helen Clark doesn't think is a good idea.

So, a lot of this should be taken with a grain of salt and is probably better shouted out the window of their offices in Paris.

Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.