Belgium: Staff Report for the 2004 Article IV Consultation
IMF Staff Country Reports, March 3, 2005
Source details
- Canonical URL
- Belgium: Staff Report for the 2004 Article IV Consultation
Other formats
Bibliographic details
- Published: March 3, 2005
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451803204.002
Key findings
- During the recent upswing, growth in Belgium has been comparatively robust.
- Growth was propelled by strong household spending and supported by the global recovery as well as macroeconomic policies.
- Tax cuts and wage increases have sustained disposable income growth.
- Household savings resumed a declining trend amid improvements in the economic outlook and public finances.
Outlook and projections
- IMF staff’s view: economic growth is expected to continue at a healthy pace in 2005.
- Primary drivers of 2005 growth: private consumption and a likely strengthening of corporate investment and employment growth.
Labor, fiscal, and macroeconomic context
- Subjects listed: Employment, Employment rate, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Labor, Labor costs, Public debt.
- Keywords provided emphasize: employment growth, employment rate, Fiscal stance, growth outlook, growth prospect, Labor costs, spending, surplus, early retirement.
Document identifiers and publication note
- Publication date shown on page: March 3, 2005.
- Series and identifiers on the landing page include: Country Report No. 2005/075; Issue 075; Pages: 44; ISBN: 9781451803204; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451803204.002.
Source: Belgium: Staff Report for the 2004 Article IV Consultation (March 3, 2005).