Belgium: 2008 Article IV Consultation: Staff Report; Staff Supplement; and Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion
March 27, 2008
Summary
Although economic performance has remained good, difficulties in building consensus for institutional reform have caused an ill-affordable hiatus in economic policymaking. Robust economic activity absorbed a growing labor force and allowed the unemployment rate to decline continuously. Low-income groups are being disproportionately affected by the food and energy price increases, triggering a necessary increase in targeted income support. The authorities agreed that various indicators suggest that the current level of the real effective exchange rate is broadly appropriate.
Subject: Expenditure, Fiscal consolidation, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Income, National accounts, Public debt
Keywords: Belgium, budget proposal, CR, credit default swap spread, Europe, expenditure side, Fiscal consolidation, Fiscal stance, Global, government, headline inflation, Income, ISCR, railway company debt transfer, rate, structural adjustment
Pages:
46
Volume:
2008
DOI:
Issue:
111
Series:
Country Report No. 2008/111
Stock No:
1BELEA2008001
ISBN:
9781451803280
ISSN:
1934-7685





