## 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](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/belgium-staff-report-for-the-2004-article-iv-consultation-18096)

## Other formats

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## Bibliographic details
- Published: March 3, 2005
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451803204.002

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### 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).*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2016/12/31/belgium-staff-report-for-the-2004-article-iv-consultation-18096_