Belgium: Staff Report for the 2003 Article IV Consultation

February 27, 2004

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Belgium: Staff Report for the 2003 Article IV Consultation, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2004) accessed May 16, 2025

Summary

Long-term issues continue to dominate the economic policy agenda. The economy is expected to grow at a moderate pace. The challenge from aging is becoming more pressing, calling for sustained fiscal consolidation. The elaboration of a medium-term fiscal framework based on expenditure growth ceilings will help underpin the achievement of budget objectives. The focus on job creation has triggered helpful initiatives but further, comprehensive labor market reform is needed to raise employment rates. An acceleration of product market reform will provide an impetus to growth.

Subject: Expenditure, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Health care spending, Labor, Labor markets, Public debt

Keywords: Authority, Central and Eastern Europe, Competition authority, Consumer price inflation, CR, Employment growth, Fiscal stance, Growth assumption, Health care spending, Interest rate, ISCR, Job creation, Labor markets, Public spending, Rate, Real GDP

Publication Details

Pages:

40
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Country Report No. 2004/047
Stock No:

1BELEA0012004
ISBN:

9781451803136
ISSN:

1934-7685

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