Europe > Ukraine

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 11 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Housing Supply and Markets x
Clear All Modify Search
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper highlights impact of high-energy prices on Germany’s potential output. The surge in energy prices since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a contraction in the energy-intensive sector’s production, while the nonenergy intensive sector’s industrial production has remained resilient. Permanently higher energy prices could reduce Germany’s potential output, but some of the impact is expected to be offset by firms’ endogenous response to improving energy efficiency. Some decline in Germany’s potential output level because of higher energy prices is likely unavoidable. However, good policies can help mitigate this loss and avoid exacerbating it. Increased energy efficiency is key to mitigating the adverse effects of the energy price shock. Higher labor and capital productivity can help offset output losses from higher energy prices. Government policy can help boost productivity by fostering innovation and human capital development, as discussed in more detail in the 2023 and previous year’s Article IV reports. Government interventions can help direct the transition to cleaner energy. It is important that Germany respond to the energy shock in ways that also support the green transition, given Germany’s goals to significantly reduce its CO2 emissions.
Robert C. M. Beyer
and
Nina Biljanovska
Residential house prices in Cyprus show no signs of overvaluation in international comparison, and various indicators confirm that prices are aligned with economic fundamentals. However, still-high household debt poses a risk. Regional disparities raise some concerns about affordability, notably in Limassol, calling for supply-side measures to increase housing supply.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2023 Article IV Consultation discusses that the Danish economy recovered strongly from the pandemic. Economic activity is set to soften in the first half of 2023, followed by a gradual recovery. Denmark’s recovery from the pandemic was impressive, but strong output and employment growth has contributed to inflationary pressures. Gross domestic product growth is expected to slow in 2023, while inflation will remain elevated in the near term. Risks to growth are broadly balanced while upside risks dominate inflation. Near-term fiscal policy should support disinflation, given persistently elevated inflation. There is uncertainty regarding the contractionary effects assumed in the fiscal plan, while positive output gaps and high inflation are expected in the near term. Medium-term fiscal policy should be recalibrated as needed to adhere to the fiscal rules. The structural balance will weaken to a deficit over the medium term mainly due to defense and demographic-related spending.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper discusses the causes and implications of elevated inflation in Cyprus and describes recent inflation trends. The paper also analyses drivers of inflation in with an augmented Phillips Curve and investigates how wages adjust to inflation. Estimating a pass-through from inflation shocks to wages can further help assess domestic price pressures. Fiscal policies should help containing price pressures. While external developments drove inflation dynamics in 2022, domestic developments will increasingly determine inflation going forward. Given the historical pass-through, wage pressures are expected to intensify this year, aggravated by labor market tightness. Fiscal policy should hence support the battle against inflation, while protecting vulnerable households, which have been impacted disproportionally by the cost-of-living crisis. Spending plans in the 2023 budget are sufficiently tight to help contain inflation pressures from aggregate demand. Any upwards, revisions to the automatic cost-of-living allowance would risk sustaining high inflation and weakening the economy structurally.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.

Abstract

Economic growth has tumbled across Europe, inflation remains too high, and financial sector risks have materialized. Taming sticky inflation while avoiding financial stress and a recession will require tighter macroeconomic policies—tailored to changing financial conditions, stronger financial regulation and supervision, and bolder supply-side reforms that heal scars from the COVID-19 and energy crises.

International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2022 Article IV Consultation discusses that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is posing new challenges, but the Netherlands has suffered a smaller decline in the terms of trade compared to the rest of the euro area. Growth is projected to slow to 0.6 percent in 2023 from 4.2 percent in 2022, as high inflation weighs on consumption, external demand wanes, and financial conditions tighten. Over the medium term, growth will be underpinned by public investment and reforms. Headline inflation is expected to moderate in 2023 with the activation of the energy price ceiling, while core inflation is projected to peak in 2023 at about 7.3 percent. The fiscal deficit is projected to increase to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, mainly reflecting government measures to cushion the impact of high-energy prices and the economic slowdown. However, the Dutch fiscal position remains strong, with the public debt to GDP ratio expected to remain below 50 percent over the medium term.
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
The 2022 Article IV Consultation discusses that with a rapid post-pandemic economic recovery and favorable terms of trade, Australia has reached a stronger cyclical position than many other advanced economies, with limited scarring. Inflation has risen to significantly above target, prompting decisive monetary policy tightening. Financial conditions have since tightened, and housing prices started declining from their peak. Australia is on a narrow path to a soft landing. Growth is expected to slow to 1.6 percent in 2023 from 3.6 percent in 2022 as higher interest rates and weaker global growth cut into domestic demand and net exports. Inflation is projected to decelerate slowly toward the 2-3 percent inflation target by the end of 2024. Downside risks to the economic outlook dominate, with significant uncertainty regarding global growth, commodity prices, and domestic developments surrounding wages, housing prices, and the effect of tighter monetary conditions. Structural policies can help foster sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth. The new climate change mitigation targets should be supported with strong policies, while continued structural reform efforts can help address the labor productivity slowdown and achieve greater inclusion.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This 2022 Article IV Consultation discusses that the war in Ukraine has clouded the outlook for the Slovak economy while it was still recovering from the pandemic. The effects of the war are already felt through surging commodity prices, input shortages, subdued confidence, weaker global demand, and heightened energy security risks, given Slovakia’s heavy reliance on Russian energy imports. Fiscal policy needs to be flexible and ready to adjust, while avoiding adding to inflationary pressures. The immediate policy priority is to mitigate the economic fallout of the war and minimize the humanitarian crisis. Rebuilding fiscal buffers should begin once the economy is on a solid growth path, to create room for maneuver and accommodate rising ageing-related spending. Recent reforms to the fiscal framework and the pension system could significantly strengthen public finances. The multiyear spending ceilings should strengthen fiscal discipline, while the link between retirement age and life expectancy will improve fiscal sustainability.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This 2022 Article IV Consultation discusses that Iceland has weathered recent shocks to the economy relatively well. Well-designed policy measures and a solid health system eased the impact of the pandemic, allowing real gross domestic product and employment to recover strongly. Robust domestic demand and favorable terms of trade boosted output growth to 4.3 percent in 2021, despite slower recovery in tourism. Growth is expected to remain moderate in 2022 and the medium term. Careful policy coordination is required to entrench the recovery, stem risks and rebuild buffers to pre-pandemic levels. Policies should mitigate the flaring-up in inflation, external imbalances, and house prices. Structural reforms should facilitate economic diversification and make the economy more resilient to shocks. Diversification efforts should focus on easing regulatory burdens on start-ups and spurring innovation by leveraging Iceland’s human capital and advanced digital infrastructure. The new collective wage agreement can also foster diversification and resilience through better alignment of wage and productivity growth.
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
Real GDP surpassed its pre-pandemic trend in early 2021, and the labor market is tight. Inflation is increasing, mainly driven by energy prices, but core inflation is also edging up. The fiscal position strengthened and the financial sector has remained resilient. Rapidly growing housing prices raise concerns about affordability and could pose risks for financial stability and the country’s attractiveness in the medium term. Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, inflation pressures have intensified and financial market volatility has risen.