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The Institution

The Federal Planning Bureau (FPB) is an independent public agency. It draws up studies and projections on economic, social and environmental policy issues and on the integration of these policies within a context of sustainable development.

Igor Lebrun

Picture : Igor Lebrun

Igor Lebrun completed a master’s in econometrics at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in 1990 and worked for the next two years as a researcher and teaching assistant at the ULB’s Department of Applied Economics. After working briefly at the Federal Planning Bureau (FPB), he joined the United Nations Development Programme. Back in Belgium by the end of 1995, he returned to work at the FPB, first as an analyst in the team in charge of the medium-term model HERMES and later as an analyst in the team preparing the economic budget. In 2001, he was appointed advisor in the General Directorate, where he is mainly responsible for monitoring activities related to macroeconomic modelling and projection methods. Since 2016, he has coordinated, in the General Directorate, the work for the project on assessing the economic impacts of election manifestos. Since 2014, he has represented the FPB in the European and OECD networks that bring together the independent fiscal institutions. Between November 2011 and March 2016, he chaired the EU’s Economic Policy Committee Working Group responsible for developing a method to estimate the output gap. In August 2018, he succeeded Michel Englert as Head of the General Directorate.

 

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  • Chiffrage 2024 : note de lancement
    Doorrekening 2024: startnota

    Ce document s’inscrit dans le cadre des travaux préparatoires au chiffrage des priorités des partis politiques en vue de l’élection pour la Chambre des représentants de juin 2024 (DC2024).

    La note de lancement fait partie des documents qui constituent la guidance en vue du chiffrage 2024 rédigée à l’attention des partis politiques, des médias et du public en général. Elle définit le périmètre du chiffrage et les instructions pour l’introduction par les partis politiques des mesures auprès du Bureau fédéral du Plan. Elle précise les modalités pratiques qui découlent de la loi. Enfin, elle décrit avec quels outils les résultats du chiffrage seront générés et sous quelle forme ceux-ci seront présentés.


    Dit document maakt deel uit van de voorbereidende werkzaamheden voor de doorrekening van de prioriteiten van de politieke partijen bij de verkiezing voor de Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers in juni 2024 (DC2024).

    De startnota is een van de documenten die de handleiding vormen voor de doorrekening 2024, opgesteld voor de politieke partijen, de media en het grote publiek. Deze nota definieert de perimeter van de doorrekening, lijst de instructies op voor politieke partijen om maatregelen in te dienen bij het Federaal Planbureau en preciseert de praktische modaliteiten die uit de wet voortvloeien. Ten slotte worden de instrumenten beschreven die zullen worden gebruikt om de resultaten van de doorrekening te genereren en de vorm waarin die laatste zullen worden gepresenteerd.

    DC2024 - START NOTE [06/02/2024]
  • Évaluation de la précision des prévisions à court terme et des perspectives à moyen terme du BFP. Une mise à jour du Working Paper 05-20
    Evaluatie van de nauwkeurigheid van de korte- en middellange-termijnvooruitzichten van het FPB. Een update van Working Paper 05-20

    La loi du 28 février 2014 modifiant la loi du 21 décembre 1994 instituant l’Institut des comptes nationaux (ICN) prévoit d’évaluer tous les trois ans les prévisions à court terme et les perspectives à moyen terme réalisées par le Bureau fédéral du Plan (BFP) pour le compte de l’ICN. Cette obligation légale est à l’origine des évaluations qui ont été présentées en 2017 et 2020. Le présent document actualise les principales statistiques qui résument les propriétés des erreurs de prévision et de projection.


    De wet van 28 februari 2014 tot wijziging van de wet van 21 december 1994 met betrekking tot de oprichting van het Instituut voor de Nationale Rekeningen (INR) bepaalt dat de korte- en middellangetermijnvooruitzichten die het Federaal Planbureau (FPB) opstelt voor rekening van het INR elke drie jaar moeten worden geëvalueerd. Die wettelijke verplichting ligt aan de oorsprong van de evaluaties die werden uitgevoerd in 2017 en 2020. In dit document worden de belangrijkste statistieken geactualiseerd die de eigenschappen van de voorspellingsfouten samenvatten.

    Working Paper 07-23 [12/12/2023]
  • Évaluation de la précision des prévisions à court terme et des perspectives à moyen terme du BFP - Une mise à jour des Working Papers 12-17 et 13-17
    Evaluatie van de nauwkeurigheid van de korte- en middellangetermijnvooruitzichten van het FPB - Een update van Working Papers 12-17 en 13-17

    La loi du 28 février 2014 modifiant la loi du 21 décembre 1994 instituant l’Institut des comptes nationaux prévoit d’évaluer tous les trois ans les prévisions à court terme et les perspectives à moyen terme. Cette obligation légale est à l’origine des évaluations présentées dans les Working Papers 12-17 et 13-17. Le présent document actualise les principales statistiques synthétisant les propriétés des erreurs de prévision et de projection.


    De wet van 28 februari 2014 tot wijziging van de wet van 21 december 1994 met betrekking tot de oprichting van het Instituut voor de Nationale Rekeningen bepaalt dat de korte- en middellangetermijnvooruitzichten elke drie jaar moeten worden geëvalueerd. Die wettelijke verplichting ligt aan de oorsprong van de evaluaties die werden voorgesteld in Working Papers 12-17 en 13-17. In dit document worden de belangrijkste statistieken geactualiseerd die de eigenschappen van de voorspellingsfouten samenvatten

    Working Paper 05-20 [16/11/2020]
  • Chiffrage 2019 : note de lancement - Document rédigé dans le cadre des travaux préparatoires au chiffrage des programmes électoraux 2019
    Doorrekening 2019: startnota - Document opgesteld in het kader van de voorbereidende werkzaamheden van de doorrekening van de verkiezingsprogramma’s van 2019

    La note de lancement du projet de chiffrage des programmes électoraux vise à rappeler les principes de la loi du 22 mai 2014, modifiée par la loi du 30 juillet 2018, et à la resituer dans son contexte historique. Cette note décrit également le processus initié par le Bureau fédéral du Plan pour rendre, en collaboration avec les personnes de contact des partis politiques, la loi opérationnelle. Les deux phases du chiffrage sont ensuite détaillées, la première ayant trait à l’estimation de l’impulsion budgétaire, la seconde à l’analyse d’impact. Enfin, les mérites et les limites de l’exercice sont discutés.


    De startnota voor de doorrekening van de verkiezingsprogramma's beoogt de beginselen van de wet van 22 mei 2014, gewijzigd door de wet van 30 juli 2018, in herinnering te brengen, en die in een historische context te situeren. Deze nota beschrijft eveneens het proces dat het Federaal Planbureau, in samenwerking met de contactpersonen van de politieke partijen, heeft opgestart om de wet operationeel te maken. Vervolgens worden de twee fasen van de doorrekening beschreven: de eerste fase heeft betrekking op de raming van de budgettaire impuls en de tweede fase op de impactanalyse. Tot slot worden de verdiensten en de beperkingen van de oefening besproken.

    DC2019_START_NOTE [11/01/2019]
  • Description et utilisation du modèle HERMES
    Beschrijving en gebruik van het HERMES-model

    Le modèle économétrique HERMES du Bureau fédéral du Plan sera sollicité pour calculer les impacts macroéconomiques et sur le solde budgétaire et la dette publique des mesures contenues dans la liste des priorités de chaque parti politique dans le cadre du ‘chiffrage des programmes électoraux 2019’. Le présent document résume les caractéristiques du modèle, en présente la structure et les principaux mécanismes de transmission ainsi que les limites. Le fonctionnement du modèle est ensuite illustré à l’aide de quelques variantes de politique économique. Dans une seconde partie, la procédure d’élaboration du scénario de référence est décrite et les principaux résultats des perspectives économiques de juin 2018 sont présentés. Ces évolutions constituent la préfiguration du scénario de référence à l’aune duquel les effets macro-économiques des mesures prioritaires des partis politiques seront évalués.


    Het econometrische model HERMES van het Federaal Planbureau zal worden gebruikt om de macroeconomische impact en de invloed op het begrotingsresultaat en de overheidsschuld te berekenen van de maatregelen in de prioriteitenlijst van elke politieke partij in het kader van de ‘doorrekening van de verkiezingsprogramma’s 2019'. Dit document geeft een samenvatting van de kenmerken van het model, presenteert de structuur ervan en de belangrijkste transmissiemechanismen en beperkingen. Vervolgens wordt de werking van het model geïllustreerd aan de hand van enkele economische beleidsvarianten. In een tweede deel wordt de procedure voor het opstellen van het referentiescenario beschreven en worden de belangrijkste resultaten van de economische vooruitzichten van juni 2018 voorgesteld. Die evoluties vormen de prefiguratie van het referentiescenario op basis waarvan de macro-economische impact van de prioritaire maatregelen van de politieke partijen zal worden geëvalueerd.

    DC2019_WP_01 [21/12/2018]
  • Accuracy assessment of the FPB medium-term outlooks - An update

    This working paper provides an update of a study from 2007 in which the accuracy of the medium-term outlooks for the Belgian economy is assessed. The study is expanded with nine additional editions of the Economic Outlook covering a mixture of pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis periods.

    In the framework of the Act of 28 February 2014 on the National Accounts Institute the Scientific Committee for the economic budget has taken note of this study and has issued an opinion on it.

    Working Paper 13-17 [30/09/2017]
  • Accuracy assessment of the FPB short-term forecasts - An update

    The Federal Planning Bureau is responsible, within the National Accounts Institute, for producing the macroeconomic forecasts that are used to set up the federal government budget. This working paper presents an update of the ex post assessment of the quality of these forecasts. Compared to the previous working paper devoted to this topic, the sample has been extended by six additional years and the number of evaluated variables has been increased, in particular with series at current prices. Moreover, this paper also examines to what extent the observed forecast errors are due to errors made on exogenous assumptions related to the international environment.

    Working Paper 12-17 [29/09/2017]
  • Croissance potentielle et output gap : une analyse rétrospective des estimations réalisées par le BFP et la CE

    In the framework of the publication of its Economic Outlook for Belgium, the Federal Planning Bureau has estimated the potential growth and the output gap since 2003. This report presents a retrospective analysis of the properties of the short-term and long-term revisions of the potential growth and the output gap. A comparison with the results based on the EC estimations is also provided. This work falls within the legal tasks of the Institute of National Accounts in the field of forecast assessment.

    OPREP201604 [31/03/2016]
  • Potential output growth in Belgium since the crisis - Lower and more uncertain

    The uncertainty surrounding the estimates of potential output has risen in the euro area countries since the outbreak of the financial crisis. Moreover, potential growth in the euro area has fallen since 2009. In this working paper we examine both phenomena for Belgium based on potential GDP estimates produced by the Federal Planning Bureau. We also analyse the evolution of the three main underlying determinants of potential growth, namely the contribution of labour, capital and total factor productivity.

    Working Paper 04-15 [23/06/2015]
  • Perspectives économiques 2015-2020
    Economische vooruitzichten 2015-2020

    Les « Perspectives économiques 2015-2020 » annoncent une reprise de la croissance de l’économie belge. Bien que relativement modeste (1,5 % en moyenne annuelle), cette croissance irait de pair avec une progression assez soutenue de l’emploi (près de 34 000 par an en moyenne). Le poids économique de l’ensemble des administrations publiques, notamment en termes d’emploi, serait en recul, ce qui contribue, avec la baisse des charges d’intérêt, à la réduction très significative du déficit public, qui s’établirait à 1,1 % du PIB à l’horizon 2020.


    De ‘Economische vooruitzichten 2015-2020’ kondigen een groeiherstel van de Belgische economie aan. Die groei is nog relatief bescheiden (gemiddeld 1,5 % per jaar), maar zou gepaard gaan met een vrij sterke werkgelegenheidsgroei (gemiddeld bijna 34 000 jobs per jaar). Het economisch gewicht van de gezamenlijke overheid zou afnemen, o.m. in termen van werkgelegenheid, en samen met de daling van de rentelasten bijdragen tot de aanzienlijke vermindering van het overheidstekort, dat 1,1 % van het bbp zou bedragen in 2020.

    Economic outlook 2015-2020 [12/05/2015]
  • Perspectives économiques 2015-2020 - Version de mars 2015
    Economische vooruitzichten 2015-2020 Versie van maart 2015

    Dit rapport vormt een bijdrage tot de voorbereiding van het nieuwe Stabiliteitsprogramma en van het nieuwe Nationaal Hervormingsprogramma (NHP). Het vermeldt de voornaamste resultaten van de voorlopige versie van de “Economische vooruitzichten 2015-2020” die in mei 2015 gepubliceerd zullen worden.

     


    Ce rapport constitue une contribution à la préparation du nouveau Programme de Stabilité et du nouveau Programme National de Réforme (PNR). Il reprend les principaux résultats de la version préliminaire des « Perspectives économiques 2015-2020 » qui seront publiées en mai 2015.

    Economic outlook 2015-2020 0 [19/03/2015]
  • A new version of MODTRIM II - An overview of the model for short-term forecasts

    This working paper describes the new version of MODTRIM II, the FPB’s quarterly macroeconomic model for short-term forecasting. The short-term forecasts are published three times a year and are referred to as the "economic budget", as they are used by the federal government to set up its budget and to perform budgetary control exercises. The objective of this working paper is not to provide a complete description of the model, but to focus on the specification and estimation results of the behavioural equations.

    Working Paper 05-14 [25/06/2014]
  • La prévision par la Commission européenne de l’output gap pour la Belgique est-elle crédible ?

    Le point de départ de ce rapport est l’important écart entre l’estimation de l’output gap faite par la Commission européenne et par le Bureau fédéral du Plan à l’horizon 2015. Nous défendons la thèse que les estimations de croissance potentielle par la Commission européenne pour les années 2013-2014 ne répondent pas, contrairement à celles réalisées par le Bureau fédéral du Plan, aux critères fondamentaux de stabilité et de minimisation des révisions. Par ailleurs, une comparaison avec les estimations d’output gap pour l’Allemagne et la France, vient appuyer la pertinence de l’estimation pour la Belgique faite par le BFP.


    Het uitgangspunt van dit rapport is het grote verschil tussen de raming van de output gap tegen 2015 door de Europese Commissie en die door het Federaal Planbureau. Wij verdedigen de stelling dat de ramingen inzake de potentiële groei door de Europese Commissie voor de jaren 2013-2014, in tegenstelling tot die van het Federaal Planbureau, niet beantwoorden aan de fundamentele criteria inzake stabiliteit en minimalisering van de herzieningen. Een vergelijking met de ramingen van de output gap voor Duitsland en Frankrijk ondersteunt trouwens de relevantie van de door het FPB gemaakte raming voor België

    OPREP201402 [26/03/2014]
  • A new version of the HERMES model - HERMES III

    This Working Paper is aimed at describing the current version of Federal Planning Bureau’s medium-term macrosectoral model, named HERMES. This model is used to produce on a regular basis medium-term outlooks for the Belgian economy. In addition to the main macroeconomic aggregates (GDP, private consumption, external trade, investments,…), those outlooks also concern labour market aggregates, detailed public finances, energy  consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The HERMES model is also used to compute the impact of policy measures and external shocks on the Belgian economy.

    Working Paper 13-13 [08/11/2013]
  • Short Term Update 02-12 : Special Topic - Dealing with uncertainty in macroeconomic forecasting

    The new economic outlook for Belgium for the period 2012-2017 is based on a context of budget consolidation and weak economic growth for Europe. After a year 2012 marked by a mild recession, the euro area should gradually recover the path of growth. However, this growth would be modest and mixed according to country. The main risk factor for these growth forecasts lies in the sovereign debt crisis and the evolution of the financial sector in the euro area.

    Despite this unfavourable context, the Belgium economy should avoid a recession in 2012 and register GDP growth equal to 1.4% in 2013. From 2014 onwards, Belgian economic growth should become more dynamic, without exceeding 2%. Export growth should amount to 3.7% on average on an annual basis over the period 2014-2017, which means that the loss of market share should persist (1.3 percentage points per year). Over the same period, domestic demand should have an annual growth rate of 1.6%, causing GDP to increase by 1.9% on average per year.

    Belgian inflation should exceed largely 2% in 2012, owing to a new rise in energy prices, the depreciation of the euro against the dollar, and increases in indirect taxes, but should fall below 2% in 2013, notably thanks to lower oil prices. In the context of a moderate rise in international energy prices, Belgian inflation should stabilize at 1.8% on average during the period 2014-2017.

    Total domestic employment should increase by 8 000 units this year and by 14 000 units next year. From 2014 onwards, total employment is expected to increase by 188 000 jobs over the period 2014-2017. The number of unemployed persons (broad administrative concept) should rise between 2012 and 2014 (+ 64 000 units). Over the following years, employment should grow more strongly, while the labour force continues to expand, partially due to the pension reform. As a result, the decrease in unemployment should remain limited to 33 000 units during the period 2015-2017. Finally, as measured by the Eurostat definition, which allows for international comparisons, the unemployment rate should amount to 7.3% in 2013, compared to 7.2% in 2011.

    Driven by the federal government's consolidation measures and the federate bodies' ongoing budgetary consolidation, the general government's deficit should shrink to 2.6% of GDP this year (compared to 3.7% in 2011) and thus meet the objective of the Stability Programme. Without additional measures, the general government's deficit should again increase to 2.8% of GDP in 2013. In the medium term, the deficit should shrink slightly to attain 2.5% of GDP in 2017. To reach a balanced budget in 2015 (as planned by the Stability Programme), additional measures amounting to EUR 11 billion are thus necessary.

    STU 2-12 was finalised on 1 June 2012.

    Short Term Update 02-12 [Contributor - 01/06/2012]
  • Perspectives économiques 2012-2017
    Economische vooruitzichten 2012-2017

    Economic outlook 2012-2017 [14/05/2012]
  • The methodology developed by the Federal Planning Bureau to produce long-term scenarios

    The Federal Planning Bureau has a long tradition in providing long-term projections focused on the evolution of social expenditure within an overall framework of public finance, using the MALTESE system of models. This outlook is based on different scenarios: demographic, socio-economic, macroeconomic and welfare adjustment. The purpose of this publication is to describe the methodology for the construction of the socio-economic and macroeconomic scenarios and to illustrate it by presenting the main results from the 2011 projection for the Annual Report of the Study Group on Ageing.

    Working Paper 05-12 [06/03/2012]
  • Track record of the FPB’s short-term forecasts : An update

    The Federal Planning Bureau is responsible, within the National Accounts Institute, for producing the macroeconomic forecasts that are used to set up the federal government budget. This working paper presents an update of the ex post assessment of the quality of these forecasts. Compared to the previous working papers devoted to this topic, the analysis is extended in several ways. Firstly, the number of variables examined is markedly increased, as is the number of statistical tests. Secondly, an evaluation of the quality of the quarterly forecasts is presented for the first time. In addition, this information is used to calculate the probability distribution of these forecasts and to construct a so‐called "fan chart".

    Working Paper 03-12 [23/02/2012]
  • Short Term Update 02-11 : Special Topic - What has been the damage of the financial crisis to Belgian economic activity?

    The new Economic outlook for Belgium for the period 2011-2016 is based on a context that is characterised by a stronger-than-expected recovery of the world economy, spurred on in particular by the Asian emerging economies and the US economy. Three main risks could undermine this international scenario: the budgetary position of several countries and the financial risks that this may entail; the volatility of commodity prices; and the overheating of several emerging economies.

    Belgian GDP growth should amount to 2.2% in 2011 and in 2012, affirming its outperformance compared to the euro area since the start of the crisis. This growth rate should persist in the medium term. In 2011 and 2012, domestic demand growth should accelerate, backed by private consumption and business investment. Public investment should be highly dynamic in the run-up to the local elections of 2012. After an impressive increase in 2010, exports are expected to increase at a slower pace in 2011 and 2012 due to the deceleration in world trade growth. From 2013 onwards, growth in domestic demand and exports should remain close to historical average rates.

    Belgian inflation should accelerate considerably in 2011 (3.5%), mainly due to a steep increase in raw material prices. Without new shocks on commodity prices, inflation should stabilise around 2% in the medium term.

    Belgian employment coped remarkably well with the crisis. The rise in employment in the enterprise sector in 2010 (+27 000 persons) had already compensated for the decline in 2009. This performance seems to be related mainly to the so-called temporary unemployment system and the further increase in the number of people working in the government-subsidised voucher programme for domestic-type services. From 2011 onwards, employment in the enterprise sector should increase by roughly 46 000 persons per year. The number of unemployed should decline by 8 000 units in 2011 and by 3 000 units in 2012, followed by a strengthening in the annual decline in unemployment of up to 16 000 persons in 2016. The unemployment rate (broad administrative definition) should fall from 12.6% of the labour force in 2010 to 11% at the end of the projection period.

    The general government deficit amounted to 4.1% of GDP in 2010 and should shrink to 3.8% of GDP in 2011, taking into account the budget information up to mid-April. Under a constant policy assumption, the public deficit should increase significantly in 2012 (4.4% of GDP) and decline gradually from 2013 onwards to reach 3.6% of GDP in 2016. The deficit reduction path, which aims to achieve a balanced budget in 2015, requires structural consolidation measures amounting to 17 billion euro.

    STU 2-11 was finalised on 1 June 2011.

    Short Term Update 02-11 [Contributor - 21/06/2011]
  • What has been the damage of the financial crisis to Belgian GDP? An assessment based on the FPB’s medium-term outlook

    A consensus quickly emerged among national and international organizations, based on past experiences, that the financial crisis that erupted in 2008 would have a long-lasting impact on the level of output. An initial quantification of the potential output loss imputable to the crisis for Belgium was presented in WP 10-09. This Working Paper provides an update of this analysis and examines through the successive revisions of projections made by the Federal Planning Bureau how the perception of the crisis has evolved over the last two years and what its implications are for the medium run.  The shortfall in potential output is now estimated to be less than 3 %, close to the area-wide loss estimated for the OECD-countries.

    Working Paper 08-11 [21/06/2011]
  • Perspectives économiques 2011-2016
    Economische vooruitzichten 2011-2016

    Economic outlook 2011-2016 [12/05/2011]
  • A macro-econometric model for the economy of Lesotho

    The Federal Planning Bureau took part, in collaboration with the German institute diw Berlin, in a technical assistance project aimed at developing different modelling approaches for the economy of Lesotho, a small country landlocked within the territory of South Africa. This paper summarises the major characteristics of the macro-econometric model that was elaborated in the context of this project. The modelling strategy relies on its complementarities and interactions with the so-called ‘Financial Programming’, implemented by other partners of the project team. In addition, the paper presents a baseline up to the fiscal year 2012/2013 as well as an alternative scenario in which public expenditures are reduced in response to the expected decrease in customs receipts.

    Working Paper 17-10 [20/10/2010]
  • Perspectives économiques 2010-2015
    Economische vooruitzichten 2010-2015

    Economic outlook 2010-2015 [19/05/2010]
  • Short Term Update 04-09

    In view of the new round of stability and convergence programmes (SCP) by the EMU member states, the FPB transmitted a medium-term outlook for the Belgian economy to the federal government. In this outlook, the short-term international assumptions are based on the November forecasts of the EC. These assumptions result in a gradual recovery of Belgian GDP in 2010 (0.8%) and 2011 (1.6%), after a decline of 3.1% in 2009. More information on this simulation can be found on pages 5-6.

    As world trade appears to recover at a faster pace than expected in the EC outlook, the FPB produced a technical update of the SCP-simulation. This second simulation results in relatively stronger Belgian economic growth in 2010 and 2011 (1.1% and 1.7% respectively). From 2012 to 2014 economic growth is expected to be 2.1% on average, which might not be sufficient to close the output gap by 2014. Comments in the next paragraphs are based on this exercise.

    Private demand was heavily affected by the financial and economic crisis. Private consumption suffered from a lack of confidence which brought an important increase along in the savings rate in 2009. In the medium term, consumption growth should gradually recover but remain below 2%. Gross fixed capital formation plummeted in 2009 and is unlikely to recover soon as idle production capacity is still abundant. From 2011 to 2014, average investment growth should amount to 2.1%. Exports declined by more than 10% in 2009, but should recover from 2010 onwards and reach an average growth rate of 4.4% from 2011 to 2014.

    As employment typically reacts with a lag to the business cycle, the decrease in employment should even be stronger in 2010 than in 2009, before increasing gradually from 2011 onwards. The (broad administrative) unemployment rate should increase by 2.5 percentage points in 3 years and reach 14.3% in 2011. From 2012 onwards the unemployment rate should diminish somewhat, but total administrative unemployment should still amount to more than 730 000 persons in  2014 (130 000 persons more than in 2008).

    Due to the recession the public deficit increased to 5.8% of GDP in 2009. Under an unchanged policy assumption the net public financing requirement should decline by 0.6% of GDP in 2010 and roughly stabilise somewhat below 5.5% in the medium term.

    STU 04-09 was finalised on 21 December 2009.

    Short Term Update 04-09 [Contributor - 21/12/2009]
  • Impact of the financial crisis on Belgian potential output

    The concepts of potential growth and the output gap are important tools, respectively, for assessing the supply- side capacity of an economy and evaluating the state of the business cycle. They have also become an essential ingredient of the European fiscal surveillance process. In this Working Paper we compare, in the context of the financial crisis, revisions of potential output for Belgium made recently by the Federal Planning Bureau and international organizations. Those comparisons aim at highlighting the uncertainty associated with those revisions as well as having a better  understanding of some of the channels through which the crisis may reduce potential output.

    Article 2009100606 [06/10/2009]
  • Impact de la crise financière sur le PIB potentiel de la Belgique

    The concepts of potential growth and output gap are important tools to evaluate the state of the business cycle and to assess the supply-side capacity of an economy. They have also become an essential ingredient of the European fiscal surveillance process. However, the global economy is facing its most widespread crisis in the post-war era and consequently the uncertainty regarding the impact of the crisis on supply-side conditions is enormous.  In this Working Paper we compare revisions on potential growth for Belgium made recently by the Federal Planning Bureau and international organizations. Those comparisons aim at highlighting the uncertainty associated with those revisions as well as understanding better some of the channels through which the crisis may reduce potential output.

    Working Paper 10-09 [22/09/2009]
  • Perspectives économiques 2009-2014
    Economische vooruitzichten 2009-2014

    Economic outlook 2009-2014 [20/05/2009]
  • S3BE : un modèle macroéconomique de long terme pour l’économie belge

    Several legal missions from the Federal Planning Bureau require the construction of long-term macroeconomic scenarios for the Belgian economy. In order to increase the consistency of these scenarios and to build them within a rigorous theoretical framework, it appeared important to develop a new long-term model that considers economic growth as depending upon the supply of production factors.

    The theoretical structure of the model draws on similar work done by the Dutch CPB.  In the working paper we detail the construction, the properties and the estimation of the parameters based upon quarterly data from the Belgian national accounts. The model should contribute for instance to the production of long-term macro-economic scenarios to evaluate the budgetary cost of ageing.

    Working Paper 03-09 [08/04/2009]
  • Perspectives économiques 2008-2013
    Economische vooruitzichten 2008-2013

    Economic outlook 2008-2013 [21/05/2008]
  • Belgium's NRP - Macroeconomic effects of reducing the tax wedge on labour

    Every three years, each EU Member State is required to set out its political priorities related to economic growth and job creation in a so-called National Reform Programme (NRP). The 2005-2008 programme prepared by the Belgian authorities proposes six lines of action for boosting growth and employment. For each of these lines of action, one or two quantitative objectives have been set out. In this working paper we compare the main macroeconomic objectives contained in the Belgian NRP with the results of the latest medium-term economic outlook produced by the Federal Planning Bureau. This no-policy-change scenario also serves as a baseline for analysing the effects on the main macroeconomic objectives of the government of a further reduction in social security contributions in order to ease the tax wedge on labour as foreseen in the NRP.

    Article 2007100504 [05/10/2007]
  • Le programme national de réforme de la Belgique - Effets macroéconomiques de réductions de charges sur le travail

    Every three years, each EU  member state is required to set out its political priorities related to economic growth and job creation in  a so-called National Reform Programme ( NRP ). Gauged by the latest medium-term economic outlook produced by the Federal Planning Bureau, compliance with the main macroeconomic objectives contained in the Belgian NRP  will still require sizable efforts, especially regarding the labour market. Furthermore, our analysis shows that reducing social security contributions in order to lower the tax wedge on labour as foreseen in the NRP ,  is efficient in increasing the employment  rate, especially when targeted at low wage earners, but also that such policies have a negative  effect on the objectives related to public finances and CO 2 emissions.

    Working Paper 11-07 [25/09/2007]
  • An accuracy assessment of FPB’s medium-term projections

    The Federal Planning Bureau has been publishing medium-term macroeconomic projections for the Belgian economy since the beginning of the eighties. In this working paper past projection errors are scrutinised to give users a broad idea of the uncertainties surrounding these projections. The analysis reveals that projections for most of the macro-economic variables show no statistically significant bias with the notable exception of the evolution of exports and labour productivity which was clearly overestimated, while labour force growth was systematically underestimated. Examination of the role played by the main exogenous variables shows the importance of potential export markets in explaining projection errors on GDP and components. However, losses in export market shares were underestimated in most economic outlooks. Concerning the labour force, the origin of the projection error changed over time: attributable almost exclusively to errors in the average participation rate at the beginning of the sample, from 1997 onwards the relative contribution of errors on working-age population increased gradually.

    Working paper 08-07 [05/06/2007]
  • An accuracy assessment of FPB’s medium-term projections

    The economic outlook for the Belgian economy is published each year by the Federal Planning Bureau in spring and presented to the representatives of the social partners within the Central Economic Council. This baseline is a no-policy-change scenario, notably with regard to fiscal and social policies, that is based upon an international environment founded on projections prepared by international institutions. In this working paper past projection errors are scrutinised to give users a broad idea of the precision of the projections and also to identify possible methodological weaknesses that should be improved.

    Article 2007051802 [18/05/2007]
  • Perspectives économiques 2007-2012
    Economische vooruitzichten 2007-2012

    Economic outlook 2007-2012 [11/05/2007]
  • STU 01-07 : Special Topic : An accuracy assessment of FPB’s medium-term projections

    In the course of 2006, quarterly economic growth in Belgium slowed down in line with the international business cycle from 0.9% in the first quarter to 0.6% in the last quarter. This year, qoq GDP growth should stabilise around 0.5%. On a yearly basis, economic growth should slow down from 3% in 2006 to 2.2% in 2007.

    In 2006, economic growth was only supported by domestic demand while net exports contributed negatively to it. In 2007, however, both domestic demand and net exports should support GDP growth. Despite the deceleration in quarterly Belgian export growth due to the slowdown of the euro area and the US economy, annual average export growth should rise to 6.5% in 2007 as it benefits from a considerable carry-over from 2006. After several years of decrease, the current account surplus should rise by 0.4% of GDP in 2007, mainly as a result of the decline in oil prices leading to an improvement in the terms of trade. Domestic demand growth should weaken this year, which is essentially due to the evolution of private consumption and public investment. Private consumption growth should be less buoyant than in 2006 as the personal income tax reform then gave its final boost to real disposable income. Public investment rose markedly last year in view of the local elections in October 2006, but should fall by the same extent in 2007.

    After a net gain of about 44,000 persons in 2006, employment is expected to record an average annual rise of 45,600 persons this year. As the number of jobs grows faster than the labour force, the broad administrative unemployment rate is expected to decline from 13.9% in 2006 to 13.5% in 2007. The harmonised Eurostat unemployment rate (based on labour force surveys) should fall from 8.3% in 2006 to 7.9% next year.

    This year, the increase in the national index of consumer prices (NICP) should amount to 1.8%, just as in 2006. It should be noted that the inflation picture in 2006 was blurred by the introduction of a new NICP-basket. The rise of the private consumption deflator, which is not affected by this factor, should decline from 2.3% in 2006 to 1.8% in 2007, mainly due to the decrease in oil prices.

    Short Term Update 01-07 [Contributor - 06/03/2007]
  • Fiscal councils, independent forecasts and the budgetary process: lessons from the Belgian case

    This paper describes the operating mode of the two existing Belgian fiscal councils - the High Council of Finance and the National Accounts Institute - as well as their role in the budgetary planning process and emphasizes the part taken by the FPB in producing independent macroeconomic forecasts. In the context of the revised Stability and Growth Pact, lessons drawn from the Belgian experience can certainly be useful for other Member States willing to improve their fiscal institutional settings.

    Working Paper 04-06 [06/10/2006]
  • Fiscal councils, independent forecasts and the budgetary process: lessons from the Belgian case

    This paper describes the operating mode of the two existing Belgian fiscal councils as well as their role in the budgetary planning process. These institutions, created or reformed in depth in a context of large public deficits and increasing public debt-to-GDP ratios coupled with the regionalization of the Belgian state, are the result of a maturing process. The National Accounts Institute covers the positive side of the budgetary process, while the High Council of Finance deals with the normative side. Concerning the former domain, the creation of an independent institution to provide unbiased forecasts undeniably contributed to the consolidation of public finances in Belgium. In the context of the revised Stability and Growth Pact, lessons drawn from the Belgian experience can certainly be useful for other Member States willing to improve their fiscal institutional settings. Our chief recommendations for making the budgetary process successful are: institutions dealing with positive economics should enjoy a fully independent status but remain public; positive and normative issues should be completely separated from an institutional point of view; and responsibility should be shared between several strong independent institutions so as to minimize political pressure.

    Working paper 04-06 [15/06/2006]
  • Perspectives économiques 2006-2011
    Economische vooruitzichten 2006-2011

    Economic outlook 2006-2011 [19/05/2006]
  • STU 01-06 : Special Topic - Fiscal Councils, independent forecasts and the budgetary process

    HEADLINES BELGIAN ECONOMY - MARCH 2006

    In the wake of the economic recovery in Europe, Belgian GDP growth rose gradually from 0.1% in the first quarter to 0.6% in the last quarter of 2005. Quarterly growth should stabilise at 0.6% during the first half of 2006 and remain higher than 0.5% during the second half of the year. On a yearly basis, GDP growth should strengthen from 1.5% last year to 2.2% in 2006.

    This year, net exports as well as domestic demand should contribute positively to economic growth. Due to the European recovery, Belgian export growth will strengthen to 4.7%. The current account surplus, however, will increase very little as a result of the high oil prices, which will lead to a negative evolution in the terms of trade. Domestic demand will grow at a slower pace as business investment will weaken somewhat after a significant catch-up and some exceptional purchases in 2005. This slow-down will be partially compensated for by stronger public expenditure – in consumption and investment – as well as stronger private consumption. Consumer expenditure should accelerate to 1.6% as household disposable income is underpinned by employment growth and personal income tax cuts.

    After a net gain of 38,600 persons last year, employment is expected to record an average annual rise of 41,100 persons in 2006. The number of jobs is growing faster than the labour force, which should slightly reduce the unemployment rate (broad administrative statistics) from 14.3% last year to 14.1% in 2006. The ‘harmonised’ unemployment rate (Eurostat definition) should decline from 8.4% last year to 8.3% in 2006.

    Inflation should fall markedly in 2006 compared to 2005 due to a limited rise in unit wage costs and the fading of the effects of higher oil prices. The inflation picture is somewhat blurred by the persistent deterioration in the terms of trade and by the introduction of a new price index. The private consump-tion deflator should increase by 2.3%, the GDP deflator by 1.9% and the national index of consumer prices by 1.8%.Short Term Update 01-06 [Contributor - 27/03/2006]
  • Perspectives économiques 2005-2010
    Economische vooruitzichten 2005-2010

    Economic outlook 2005-2010 [26/05/2005]
  • STU 01-05 : Special Topic - Why is Belgian productivity growth declining?

    In 2004, economic growth in Belgium amounted to 2.7% (GDP at constant prices), which is higher than the euro area average due to the strength of Belgian domestic demand. The economic recovery, triggered by an improvement in the international business climate from mid-2003 onwards, resulted in quarter-on-quarter growth rates between 0.7% and 0.8%, but weakened to 0.4% in the last quarter of 2004.

    Economic growth should gain momentum during the course of this year, which is mainly due to the quarterly profile of exports. In fact, export growth should temporarily weaken during the first half of this year due to lower foreign demand growth and the appreciation of the euro during the last two quarters of 2004, which hampers competitiveness with respect to the other currency areas. Private con-sumption (+1.8%) should increase at a faster pace than purchasing power (+1.4%) for the third con-secutive year. Stimulated by the ongoing recovery of business profitability, low interest rates and gradually improving demand prospects, real business investment growth should strengthen to 3.3% this year. All in all, GDP growth at constant prices should reach 2.2% in 2005. Inflation should re-main rather stable at 2.0%.

    Employment should increase by 34,400 units this year, as compared to 28,600 in 2004. As the labour force should increase at about the same pace in 2005, the unemployment rate should stabilise this year. The employment rate should rise slightly from 61.8% in 2004 to 62.1% in 2005.

    Short Term Update 01-05 [Contributor - 25/03/2005]
  • Variantes de réduction des cotisations sociales et de modalités de financement alternatif
    Socialezekerheids- bijdrageverminderingen en alternatieve financiering van de sociale zekerheid: simulaties van beleidsvarianten

    La présente étude s’inscrit dans le cadre des réflexions récurrentes sur les effets économiques d’opérations de redéploiement de la pression fiscale et parafiscale visant à promouvoir l’emploi. Plus précisément, elle porte sur les effets macroéconomiques et budgétaires, de court et de moyen terme, de différentes formules de réduction des cotisations sociales (employeurs ou personnelles) d’une part, d’augmentation d’autres types de prélèvements d’autre part.


    Onderhavige studie past in het kader van een terugkerend debat over de economische weerslag van een verschuiving van de fiscale en parafiscale druk met als doel de bevordering van de werkgelegenheid. Zij heeft meer bepaald betrekking op de macro-economische en budgettaire impact op korte en middellange termijn van verschillende formules ter vermindering van de sociale bijdragen (werkgevers of werknemers), enerzijds, en ter verhoging van andere soorten heffingen, anderzijds.

    Planning Paper 97 [10/03/2005]
  • The Economic Outlook in Europe in 2004-2005 : END OF THE CYCLE? OR JUST A TEMPORARY SLOW-DOWN IN EUROPE?

    Euren Winter report [20/12/2004]
  • The Economic Outlook in Europe in 2004-2005 : What type of growth for Europe ?

    Euren Summer Report [28/06/2004]
  • Modélisation trimestrielle des recettes de TVA dans Modtrim II
    Modellering op kwartaalbasis van de BTW-ontvangsten in Modtrim II

    Deze paper beschrijft de modellering van de btw-ontvangsten in het kwartaalmodel Modtrim II. In een eerste hoofdstuk worden de voornaamste kenmerken van het btw-regime en de inningsmodaliteiten in herinnering gebracht. Vervolgens worden het verloop van de impliciete btw-voet en de belangrijkste determinanten onderzocht. Een derde hoofdstuk is gewijd aan de timing en de amplitude van de cycli van de bruto btw-ontvangsten, de restituties en de bijhorende macro-economische grootheden. De eigenlijke modellering, bestaande uit een lange- en kortetermijnvergelijking, wordt voorgesteld in het vierde hoofdstuk, waarna simulaties buiten sample worden becommentarieerd. In het zesde en laatste hoofdstuk wordt aan de hand van een volledige modelsimulatie onderzocht hoe btw-ontvangsten reageren op vraagschokken.


    Le présent document décrit la modélisation des recettes de tva dans le modèle trimestriel Modtrim II. Une première section rappelle les principales caractéristiques du régime de la tva et de son mode de perception. L'évolution du taux implicite de la tva et ses principaux déterminants sont examinés dans une seconde section. Une troisième section est consacrée à l'examen du timing et des amplitudes cycliques des perceptions brutes de tva, des restitutions de tva et des indicateurs macroéconomiques afférents. Une quatrième section décrit la modélisation proposée, qui comprend une équation de long terme et une équation de court terme. Des simulations out of sample sont présentées dans une cinquième section. Enfin, la dernière section examine, à l’aide de l’ensemble du modèle, comment les recettes de tva réagissent à des chocs de demande.

    Working Paper 14-04 [01/06/2004]
  • Perspectives économiques 2004-2009
    Economische vooruitzichten 2004-2009

    Economic outlook 2004-2009 [17/05/2004]
  • The Economic Outlook in Europe in 2003-2004 - Back to growth

    Euren Autumn Report [17/12/2003]
  • Tout savoir sur la confection du budget économique
    De opmaak van de economische begroting : een handleiding

    La loi du 21 décembre 1994 confie au Bureau fédéral du Plan, dans le cadre de sa participation à l’Institut des Comptes Nationaux, la mission d’établir le budget économique. Le présent document rappelle le cadre institutionnel dans lequel se situe la confection de ce dernier et en décrit les principales utilisations. Il expose également la méthodologie suivie et les principaux instruments développés à cet effet.


    De Wet van 21 december 1994 heeft het Federaal Planbureau, als instelling die deel uitmaakt van het Instituut voor de Nationale Rekeningen, het opstellen van de economische begroting als taak toevertrouwd. Deze paper schetst het insti-tutionele kader waarbinnen de opmaak van de economische begroting gebeurt en geeft een overzicht van het gebruik dat ervan wordt gemaakt. Tevens wordt ingegaan op de gevolgde methodologie en wordt beschreven welke instrumen-ten hiervoor werden ontwikkeld.

    Working Paper 17-03 [30/10/2003]
  • The Economic Outlook in Europe in 2003-2004 - Summer Report

    Euren Summer Report [01/07/2003]
  • STU 02-03 : Special Topic - Estimating potential growth in Belgium

    Economic activity remained subdued in the euro area in the last quarter of 2002 and early estimates point to a stabilisation in the first quarter of the current year. International organizations are forecasting a gradual but only modest recovery in the course of 2003. In Belgium, GDP growth was higher than in the main neighbouring countries in the last quarter of 2002. This should also be the case in the first quarter of 2003. The FPB leading indicator for Belgium confirms the scenario of a recovery during the course of 2003. Annual GDP growth should nevertheless be only slightly above 1% this year.

    Various risks could jeopardise the recovery in the euro zone: the continuing depreciation of the USD, and a slower recovery of confidence due to the situation in the labour market and/or the stock market. The medium-term outlook for Belgium is pointing towards a GDP growth rate of 2.4% during the 2004-08 period, which is slightly higher than potential (2.1%).This favourable development is due to both net exports and domestic demand. Private consumption should become more dynamic during the 2004-2008 period, particularly thanks to the increase in households’ disposable income (especially due to tax reform). Investment growth should attain 3% during the 2004-08 period, mainly reflecting the increase in business investment. Average export growth should be 5.3% during the same period and the contribution of net exports to GDP growth should be 0.3%. Thanks to limited wage and import cost increases and a negative output gap in the first years of the projection, the inflation rate will remain below 2% in the medium term.

    The development of employment should reflect the favourable macroeconomic context, the limited increases in wage costs and various policy measures. After stagnating in 2003, about 32,000 jobs should be created every year during the 2004-2008 period (as compared with 43,000 jobs created on average during 1996-2002). Industrial employment should fall by 38,000 persons during the 2003-2008 period and the number of jobs created in market services should exceed 200,000. The unemployment rate (including long term unemployment of older workers) is still increasing in 2003 (from 13.3% to 14.0%), but will subsequently fall to 12.9% in 2008. The proportion of active job seekers within broad unemployment will increase, due to recent policy measures aimed at limiting early retirement.

    The public accounts are expected to show a clear deterioration, with a net public administrations borrowing requirement appearing in 2003. Equilibrium is not expected to be reached until the end of the period covered by the forecast.

    Short Term Update 02-03 [Contributor - 15/06/2003]
  • Perspectives économiques 2003-2008
    Economische vooruitzichten 2003-2008

    Economic outlook 2003-2008 [26/05/2003]
  • MODTRIM II : A quarterly model for the Belgian economy

    Since 1994 the Federal Planning Bureau has been using the annual version of the econometric model modtrim as a central tool to produce its short-term macroeconomic forecasts. At the origin of the project, and as its name indicates, this annual version was meant to be short-lived and quickly replaced by a quarterly version. Unfortunately, the lack of quarterly national accounts prevented from doing so for several years. In 1998, the Institute for National Accounts published official quarterly accounts for the first time and the construction of the quarterly version of the model started in Spring 2000. On that occasion, the opportunity was taken to reassess all behavioural equations of the model. The more limited availability of quarterly data, in comparison with annual data, implied that a more aggregated version of the accounting framework of the yearly model had to be constructed.

    Working Paper 06-03 [20/05/2003]
  • The Economic Outlook in Europe in 2002-2003 - Autumn Report

    Euren Autumn Report [18/12/2002]
  • STU 04-02 : Special Topic - Stock market prices and economic growth

    In October, the FPB updated its medium-term outlook for Belgium until 2007. This projection is pointing towards a GDP growth of 2.5% on average from 2003 to 2007. This development can be largely accounted for by domestic demand, whereas the role of (net) exports is expected to be more limited. Private consumption should be more dynamic during the forecasting period than during the nineties thanks to a favourable development in households’ disposable income (stimulated especially by reductions in personal income tax). The growth in gross fixed capital formation should attain an average of 2.9% during the period 2003-2007, notably reflecting the expansion in business investment. Export growth should be 5.1% on average: the structural loss in export market share should be confirmed and the contribution of net exports to GDP growth is expected to decline.

    The inflation rate should be below 2% in the medium term. Assuming no shocks on commodity prices, the main domestic factors behind this moderate inflation are wage increases compatible with productivity gains, cuts in social security contributions and the extension of production capacity.

    Employment should show a gradual improvement: an increase of 33,000 jobs on average should be observed during the 2003-2007 period (as compared with an increase of 40,000 jobs, on average, during the 1996-2000 period). However, a large proportion of the labour expansion should be absorbed by an increase in the labour force. Therefore, the unemployment rate in a broad sense should only decrease from 13.5% by mid-2002 to 13.2% in 2007.

    Assuming no policy change but taking into account (as far as possible) the measures decided within the framework of the 2003 budget, the financing capacity of public administrations should be close to balance between 2003 and 2006 and a small surplus would be observed in 2007. Taking into account the computed output gap and the resulting cyclical budget component, the structural (cyclically adjusted) balance would be positive but slightly declining from 2002 onwards.

    The objective of a positive financing capacity (0.5% of GDP in 2005 as mentioned in the new Stability Program for Belgium) is not expected to be reached without additional budgetary measures. However, the total public debt to GDP ratio should continue its decline, but at a slower pace if compared with the 2001 forecast. The decrease should represent about 21% of GDP between 2001 and 2007.

    Short Term Update 04-02 [Contributor - 29/11/2002]
  • AIECE General Report

    AIECE General Report [18/11/2002]
  • Budget économique 2003 - Prévisions économiques
    Economische begroting 2003 - Economische vooruitzichten

    Economic Forecasts 2003 [04/09/2002]
  • Perspectives économiques 2002-2007
    Economische vooruitzichten 2002-2007

    Economic outlook 2002-2007 [06/06/2002]
  • Budget économique 2002 - Contrôle budgétaire
    Economische begroting 2002 - Begrotingscontrole

    Economic Forecasts 2002 C [15/03/2002]
  • STU 01-02 : Special Topic - The business cycle in Belgium and the euro area: a comparison

    After an exceptional year in 2000, world trade growth deteriorated sharply in 2001. The collapse of world trade can be explained by the synchronized slackening of the three main economic powers (United States, Japan, and the European Union). The attacks of 11 September and their economic and political impact have, of course, amplified the downturn. The end of destocking and the hesitant recovery, which, according to certain indicators, may be starting in the United States during the first semester of this year, should allow world trade to regain positive growth rates, although a stronger recovery should not be expected before the second half of 2002.

    The Belgian economy was severely affected by the slowdown in world trade. On annual average, GDP should have grown by about 1.0% in 2001. In 2002 GDP should record an almost identical average annual increase, i.e. 0.9%. The composition and dynamics should, however, be quite different. After a first quarter marked by the impact of the bankruptcy of SABENA, real GDP should grow at positive qoq rates in a range between 0.5 and 1%. The economic upturn should only have a positive impact on employment by the end of the year. This year, consumer price inflation should fall below 2%. It seems that lower imported inflation is finally beginning to be passed on to the underlying inflation.

    Our forecast is counting on a gradual recovery in world trade, which should regain its full dynamics by the end of the year. We assume that the positive impact on economic recovery will mainly be observed in 2003. A strong recovery earlier this year would of course have a positive impact on growth in Europe and in Belgium as long as it does not give rise to an increase in oil prices.

    Short Term Update 01-02 [Contributor - 22/02/2002]
  • Budget économique 2002
    Economische begroting 2002

    Economic Forecasts 2002 [15/07/2001]
  • Perspectives économiques 2001-2006
    Economische vooruitzichten 2001-2006

    Economic Outlook 2001-2006 [15/05/2001]
  • Budget économique 2001 - Contrôle budgétaire
    Economische begroting 2001 - Begrotingscontrole

    Economic Forecasts 2001 C [15/03/2001]
  • Budget économique 2001
    Economische begroting 2001

    Economic Forecasts 2001 [15/07/2000]
  • Perspectives économiques 2000-2005
    Economische vooruitzichten 2000-2005

    Economic Outlook 2000-2005 [15/05/2000]
  • Budget économique 2000 - Contrôle budgétaire
    Economische begroting 2000 - Begrotingscontrole

    Economic Forecasts 2000 C [15/03/2000]
  • Budget économique 2000
    Economische begroting 2000

    Economic Forecasts 2000 [15/07/1999]
  • Le système d'indicateurs avancés du BfP : Un nouvel outil pour

    Working Paper 02-99 [15/06/1999]
  • STU 02-99 : Special Topic - The FPB macroeconomic leading indicators

    Sustained economic growth in Belgium in 1998 was supported by rapidly growing private consumption and investment. In contrast, the contribution of trade to real economic growth was negative in 1998. Nevertheless, a strong increase in terms of trade, due to the low prices of raw materials, allowed trade still to make a positive contribution towards growth in nominal terms.

    Export performance remains the key question for 1999: the deterioration of our export markets led to negative growth in Belgian exports in 1998Q4 (t/t-4) and the timing and strength of a recovery remain uncertain. International organisations are forecasting a clear upturn in world trade in mid-1999. On the basis of this scenario, the FPB is forecasting economic growth in Belgium of 2% in 1999.

    So far, however, leading indicators suggest that the upturn in exports in 1999 could be weaker than expected. The Balkan crisis is also having a negative impact on growth prospects. On the other hand, the recent fall in interest and exchange rates in the euro area does improve prospects for 1999.

    Domestic demand is not expected to be as buoyant as in 1998, and it should continue to drive growth in 1999. With a 1% increase in employment, consumer confidence will remain high: private consumption growth should be around 2%. Inflation remains at around 1%. The general government borrowing requirement should be less than 1% of GDP, due to the low level of interest rates.

    The medium-term outlook for Belgium points to an average growth rate of GDP of 2.5% per year during the 2000-2004 period in an “unchanged policy” scenario. Gross nominal wages are expected to be broadly in line with nominal labour costs in the neighbouring countries. Planned cuts in non-wage costs should therefore lead to enhanced competitiveness. Nonetheless, the slightly accelerated pace of inflation in Europe should cause domestic inflation to rise to 1.6%. The average rate of growth of employment, strongly supported by active labour market policy measures, is estimated at around 0.9% per year in average, leading to a drop in unemployment.

    Based on this scenario, the general government financing capacity should become positive from 2001 onward. The “budgetary margins”, which will cumulatively reach 1.7% of GDP in 2004, will probably be used to decrease the tax burden or/and increase expenditure: this “changed policy” scenario implies stronger macroeconomic performance than the “unchanged policy” scenario.

    Short Term Update 02-99 [Contributor - 20/05/1999]
  • Perspectives économiques 1999-2004
    Economische vooruitzichten 1999-2004

    Economic Outlook 1999-2004 [15/04/1999]
  • Budget économique 1999 - Contrôle budgétaire
    Economische begroting 1999 - Begrotingscontrole

    Economic Forecasts 1999 C [15/02/1999]
  • Les déterminants macroéconomiques de l’emploi -Contribution aux rapports 1997 du CSE et du CCE
    Macro-economische determinanten van de werkgelegenheid - Bijdrage tot de rapporten 1997 van de HRW en de CRB

    Working Paper 05-98 [15/07/1998]
  • Budget économique 1999
    Economische begroting 1999

    Economic Forecasts 1999 [15/07/1998]
  • Perspectives économiques 1998-2003
    Economische vooruitzichten 1998-2003

    Economic Outlook 1998-2003 [15/04/1998]
  • Budget économique 1998 - Contrôle budgétaire
    Economische begroting 1998 - Begrotingscontrole

    Economic Forecasts 1998 C [15/02/1998]
  • Les priorités d’Essen en matière d’emploi
    De prioriteiten van Essen inzake tewerkstelling

    Planning Paper 84 [02/01/1998]
  • La proposition Rocard de réduction du temps de travail:une évolution micro-macro

    Working Paper 04-97 [15/10/1997]
  • Perspectives économiques 1997-2001
    Economische vooruitzichten 1997-2001

    Economic Outlook 1997-2001 [15/04/1997]
  • “Loi de Robien” - Effets macroéconomiques et budgétaires d’une application en Belgique

    Working Paper 4 [15/02/1997]
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