Broader-based Growth Resilient to Global Uncertainties

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Vasily Astrov, Zlatko Bosnic, Vladimir Gligorov, Peter Havlik, Mario Holzner, Gabor Hunya, Michael Landesmann, Zdenek Lukas, Anton Mihailov, Leon Podkaminer, Sandor Richter and Hermine Vidovic

wiiw Research Report No. 328, July 2006
123 pages including 44 Tables and 19 Figures

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You can also download separate country reports of this report

No.TitleAuthor 
1Albania: SAA signedMario Holzner Free Download
2Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic boomZlatko Bosnic Free Download
3Bulgaria: EU accession reforms high on the policy agendaAnton Mihailov Free Download
4China: undamped growth of the economyWaltraut Urban Free Download
5Croatia: growth continues but external imbalances remainHermine Vidovic Free Download
6Hungary: beginning of budget consolidationSandor Richter Free Download
7Macedonia: policy stance easesVladimir Gligorov Free Download
8Montenegro: chances and challengesVladimir Gligorov Free Download
9Poland: a promising start into 2006Leon Podkaminer Free Download
10Romania: investment-led recoveryGabor Hunya Free Download
11Russian Federation: lower GDP growth, surging export revenuesPeter Havlik Free Download
12Serbia: shocks and confusionVladimir Gligorov Free Download
13Slovakia: robust investment-led growth ahead of an export offensiveZdenek Lukas Free Download
14Slovenia: introduction of the euro approvedHermine Vidovic Free Download
15The Czech Republic: export-led expansion continuesLeon Podkaminer Free Download
16Turkey: caught in emerging markets turbulenceMichael Landesmann Free Download
17Ukraine: economy withstanding the gas price shockVasily Astrov Free Download

Under favourable external conditions, the economies of the New EU Member States (NMS) fared even better in the first quarter of 2006 than in 2005. Investment accelerated sharply and industry is proving buoyant. Labour productivity has registered strong gains, unit labour costs declined. This is one of the reasons for the highly successful expansion of foreign trade, the second being the ongoing upgrading of exports and production. Foreign trade contributed positively to overall growth in Central European NMS already in 2005. In 2006, the growth contributions of both consumption and investment are also rising, thus making room for a more balanced overall GDP growth.

Industrial production will continue to expand rapidly in 2007, also on account of robust domestic consumption and investment growth. With the exception of Hungary, fiscal policy will not interfere substantially with real growth. Trade expansion is likely to be supported by the continuing gains in unit labour costs. Weaker growth in the EU-15 will not restrict NMS exports too much also in view of ongoing structural changes and quality improvements in both NMS production and exports. The generally positive outlook for the next two years assumes an absence of major turbulence on the exchange rate markets. This assumption is not risk-free - especially where Hungary is concerned. It is to be hoped that the recently announced fiscal consolidation programme proves credible and pre-empts excessive adjustments.

The labour market situation is improving across most NMS and accession countries as accelerated GDP growth has at last started to generate more substantial job creation. Migration to the UK and Ireland after accession was also significant, both in magnitude and in its effects on the sending countries, in the cases of Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania and Latvia. The effects on the UK and Ireland of migration from these countries have so far been modest but broadly positive. We expect similar outcomes for the next enlargement that will bring in Romania and Bulgaria.

Growth, driven primarily by domestic demand, is expected to continue to be strong throughout Southeast Europe. The external balances should deteriorate due to strong demand for imports, which is sustained by exchange rates that are appreciating in real terms. Macroeconomic stability will be maintained, though inflation is picking up; and is a serious problem in Serbia and Romania. Inflation is a major concern in Turkey, as is macroeconomic stability more fundamentally.

At the end of 2006 it should be decided whether Bulgaria and Romania will join the EU on 1 January 2007, as is widely expected; whether the EU will start negotiations with Macedonia, which at the moment seems unlikely; whether the other Western Balkan countries will sign Stabilization and Association Agreements with the EU; and what is the EU¿s strategy for further enlargement. The momentum has been lost when it comes to the Balkans, but the accession of Bulgaria and Romania and later on of Croatia may still make it possible for the rest of the Balkans to join the EU by 2015.

Russian GDP growth is slowing down as the real sector weakens. Domestic demand is strong, yet the contribution of net exports to GDP growth is negative. Nominal exports are booming thanks to the high prices of energy and metals. Paris Club debt repayments are ahead of schedule. GDP growth will be about 6% in both 2006 and 2007; disinflation will be only gradual. The restructuring and institutional reforms are running late. WTO accession may be postponed yet again; it is unclear what course future EU Russia relations will take.

In Ukraine the slowdown in economic growth has been reversed in 2006; domestic demand has picked up. But exports are performing badly, and the current account is expected to switch to a deficit. The hike in gas prices in early 2006 did not have any sizeable impact on the economy, not least because it has yet to be fully passed on to the final consumers. However, given the planned tariff hikes, inflation is expected to remain in double digits. The new government is likely to be less inclined to implement liberal reforms and its stability is questionable.

The Chinese economy has kept fast growth in the first quarter of 2006. The expansion was mainly driven by a surge of investment and supported by a record foreign trade surplus. Private consumption developed at a stable pace, inflation remained low. Government measures to dampen growth and to prevent an overheating of the economy may become more effective in the near future. Nevertheless, we expect GDP growth close to 10% in both 2006 and 2007.

 

Keywords: Central and East European new EU member states, Southeast Europe, Balkans, former Soviet Union, China, Turkey, GDP, industry, productivity, labour market, foreign trade, exchange rates, inflation, fiscal deficits, EU integration, structural and technological change, fiscal and monetary policy

JEL classification: O52, O57, P24, P27, P33, P52

Countries covered: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, SEE, Visegrad countries

Research Areas: Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy, Labour, Migration and Income Distribution, International Trade, Competitiveness and FDI, Sectoral studies


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