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International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2025 Article IV Consultation with Liechtenstein highlights that after exhibiting significant volatility in 2020-23 with the pandemic and spillovers from Russia’s war in Ukraine, growth has resumed, albeit at a low rate. The economy is recovering moderately. Gross domestic product growth is expected to gain momentum in 2025. A recovery in external demand for industrial products and services and a steady increase in financial services are expected to support growth reaching 1 percent in 2025. Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. As a highly open economy, a potential regional or global slowdown or accelerated geo-economic fragmentation would adversely affect exports and impede recovery. Measures are needed to narrow skills gaps for residents and increase domestic labor supply. Preserving pension system sustainability is essential in the face of adverse demographic trends. Priorities include improving timeliness of national accounts and establishing balance of payment statistics.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper focuses on cross-border income flows in Liechtenstein. In Liechtenstein, the gap between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI) is significant due to the country’s economic structure as a financial center with a high percentage of cross-border commuters and globally competitive manufacturers contributing to high GDP per capita. Using currently available data, this paper examines the drivers of the GDP-GNI gap in Liechtenstein to provide a broader context of its high per capita income. The paper illustrates the importance of analyzing Liechtenstein’s economic developments through an alternate lens, given its unique structure, namely the significant presence of commuters as well as foreign investments by Liechtenstein residents. The GDP–GNI gap is among the largest among major economies and comparable in magnitude to Ireland and Luxembourg—but is more volatile. Liechtenstein’s gap is largely due to net outflows to foreign workers, and not because MNCs are domiciling operations in the country for financial reasons.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.

Liechtenstein’s pension system is structured around a three-pillar framework designed to provide a balanced, sustainable, and secure retirement income. This well-capitalized system aims to safeguard a basic income level for all employees while encouraging supplemental private savings and income.

United Nations
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European Commission
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Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
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United Nations Environment Programme
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World Bank

Abstract

The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting: Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) constitutes an integrated and comprehensive statistical framework for organizing data about habitats and landscapes, measuring the ecosystem services, tracking changes in ecosystem assets, and linking this information to economic and other human activity. The United Nations Statistical Commission adopted the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting at its 52nd session in March 2021. This adoption follows a comprehensive and inclusive process of detailed testing, consultation and revision. Today, ecosystem accounts have already been used to inform policy development in more than 34 countries.

International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
METAC assisted the Libyan Tax Authority in reviewing tax forms to enhance taxpayer data collection. The proposed data set will significantly expand existing information, improving the completeness of taxpayer records and greatly aiding the risk assessment process.
International Monetary Fund. Secretary's Department

Abstract

The experience of the global economy since the end of the pandemic has been turbulent. The 2024 IMF Annual Report highlights the IMF’s work to on global challenges, including safeguarding macroeconomic stability, returning to fiscal sustainability, bringing inflation back to targets, and embracing transformative developments. In FY 2024, the Fund continued to support its members in our three core areas: 1) Economic surveillance: 128 country health checks completed. 2) Lending: $70 billion to 30 countries, including about $15 billion to 20 low-income countries, for a total of $357 billion to 97 countries since the start of the pandemic. 3) Capacity development: $382 million for hands-on technical advice, policy-oriented training, and peer learning. The report is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Note: The 2024 IMF Annual Report covers the activities of the Executive Board and IMF management and staff during the financial year May 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024, and in some cases more recently. Background: The Annual Report website includes the IMF’s financial statements for FY 2024 and other background documentation. The Annual Report and the financial statements are also available online at www.imfbookstore.org or www.elibrary.IMF.org

International Monetary Fund. European Dept.

IMF Country Report No. 24/180

International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issue Paper studies the relationship between monetary policy, financial conditions, and real activity during the current monetary policy-tightening episode in Switzerland. After a review of various channels through which monetary policy changes affect financial conditions, the paper shows that the transmission of policy rates to market rates has been swift and that the exchange rate is an important channel. The response of real activity to tightening financial conditions has remained broadly in line with past tightening episodes. The interest rate increase has influenced cash flows for households due to higher mortgage interest expenses. Higher interest rates also lead to higher rental cost for non-homeowners. Policy rate adjustments affect the average interest rates of mortgages and thus the mortgage reference interest rate, which is a factor for rent adjustments by Swiss regulation. Monetary tightening has contributed to a slowdown of private credit and house-price growth. Growth of mortgage loans, which represent 85 percent of bank lending, moderated to 2.4 percent in 2023 from 3.5 percent in 2022.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2024 Article IV Consultation discusses that growth is recovering gradually after slowing in 2023 in Switzerland. In order to counter risks of inflation moving to and settling at very low rates, the rate cut ahead of other central banks was appropriate. Going forward, monetary policy should remain responsive to incoming data, while taking into account international monetary policy developments. Banks have strong buffers, but vulnerabilities related to real estate persist. Ample capital buffers should be maintained, the macroprudential toolkit expanded, supply-side actions to stem pressure on the residential housing market advanced and data gaps closed. The authorities should continue to promote labor market and pension reforms to incentivize labor force participation of women, older workers, and immigrants and address labor shortages, skills gaps, and potential fiscal imbalances. The revised CO2 Act clarifies the policy framework for 2025–2030 but is less ambitious than initially proposed and might require acquiring more emissions-reduction credits from internationally. Advancing negotiations with the EU and enhancing cooperation with other key partners would mitigate uncertainty and strengthen resilience against geo-economic fragmentation risks.