Front Matter

Front Matter Page

© 2011 International Monetary Fund

June 2011

IMF Country Report No. 11/143

Kingdom of The Netherlands—Netherlands: Selected Issues and Analytical Notes

This paper on the Kingdom of The Netherlands—Netherlands was prepared by a staff team of the International Monetary Fund as background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country. It is based on the information available at the time it was completed on May 24, 2011. The views expressed in this document are those of the staff team and do not necessarily reflect the views of the government of the Kingdom of The Netherlands—Netherlands or the Executive Board of the IMF.

The policy of publication of staff reports and other documents by the IMF allows for the deletion of market-sensitive information.

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Front Matter Page

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS—NETHERLANDS

Selected Issues and Analytical Notes

Prepared by Daniel Kanda, Alasdair Scott, and Sebastian Weber

Approved by the European Department

May 24, 2011

Contents

  • Analytical Note 1: Unemployment in the Netherlands: A Unique Experience or a Model that can be Imitated?

    • A. Developments in Unemployment

    • B. Measures to Reduce Unemployment

    • C. The Structure of the Labor Market

    • D. The Structure of the Economy

    • E. Social Underpinnings

    • F. The Labor Market in the Context of the Crisis

    • G. Which Lessons for Whom?

  • Tables

  • 1-1. Wage Growth in the Manufacturing Sector

  • 1-2. Labor Force Participation, by Gender

  • 1-3. Average Employment Growth by Sector

  • 1-4. Gini Coefficient

  • Figures

  • 1-1. Unemployment Developments in Selected Developed Countries

  • 1-2. Change in the Relative Strictness of Regular to Temporary Employment

  • 1-3. Cumulative Contributions to Change in the Employment Rate (LHS) and Unemployment Rate (RHS)

  • 1-4. Sectoral Contribution to Total Employment

  • 1-5. Evolution of the Tax Wedge and its Components

  • 1-6. Benefit Replacement Rate by Length of Unemployment

  • 1-7. Employment Protection Legislation

  • Analytical Note 2: International Trade, Fiscal and Financial Spillovers

    • A. Risks from Regional Export Concentration and Global Fiscal Consolidation

    • B. Financial Sector Linkages

    • C. Conclusion

  • Tables

  • 2-1. Trade by Regions and Countries – 2009

  • 2-2. Fiscal Contribution to Growth

  • 2-3. Dutch Bank Claims Abroad

  • 2-4. Spillovers to the Netherlands from International Banking Exposures

  • 2-5. Dutch Bank Liabilities Abroad

  • Figures

  • 2-1. Spillover from the Netherlands Through International Banking Exposures

  • Analytical Note 3: Macro-Financial Linkages

    • A. Financial Stress Indicator

    • B. Financial Spillovers on the Real Sector

    • C. Conclusion

  • Tables

  • 3-1. Impact of Credit Growth on Economic Activity

  • Figures

  • 3-1. Financial Stress Index

  • 3-2. Financial Conditions Index

  • 3-3. Excess Supply of / Demand for Credit

  • 3-4. Bank Lending Standards Developments

  • Analytical Note 4: Recent Developments in the Dutch Housing Market

  • Tables

  • 4-1. Mortgage Stock to GDP

  • 4-2. Prices of Existing Houses

  • Figures

  • 4-1. Dutch House Prices

  • 4-2. Dutch House Prices Ratios

  • 4-3. Indicators of House Price Busts

  • 4-4. Recent House Price Booms and Household Balance Sheets

  • 4-5. Ratio of Mortgages Outstanding to Redeemable Deposits

  • 4-6. Number of Registered Sold Houses

  • Analytical Note 5: Potential Output Estimates and Structural Policy

    • A. Introduction

    • B. Estimates of Potential Output

    • C. Prospects

    • D. Policies to Promote Growth

  • Tables

  • 5-1. Summary of Impact of Relevant Structural Policy Reforms on Growth

  • Figures

  • 5-1. Output Gap Estimates

  • 5-2. Estimated Output Gap, Potential Growth and NAIRU

  • 5-3. Production Factors Around Output Peaks

  • Analytical Note 6: Asset Booms, Sectoral Changes, and the Estimation of Dutch Structural Fiscal Balances

    • A. Dutch Experience

    • B. The Model

    • C. Estimation Results

    • D. Calculating Structural Revenues

    • E. Structural Expenditures and Structural Balance

  • Tables

  • 6-1. Ng Perron Unit Root Tests

  • 6-2. Regression Estimates

  • 6-3. Structural Fiscal Position

  • Figures

  • 6-1. Revenue Breakdown, 1970–2009

  • 6-2. Comparison of Revenue and Nominal GDP Growth Rates, 1970–2009

  • 6-3. Revenue Determinants, 1970–2009

  • 6-4. Revenue Determinants and HP-Filtered Trends, 1970–2015

  • 6-5. Actual and Structural Revenues, 1970–2009

  • Analytical Note 7: Fiscal Sustainability and Optimal Consolidation Paths in the Netherlands

    • A. Recent Fiscal Developments and Outlook

    • B. Estimating the Fiscal Sustainability Gap

    • C. Measures to Achieve Sustainability

    • D. Optimal Fiscal Consolidation Paths

  • Tables

  • 7-1. Illustrative Optimal Annual Fiscal Adjustment Paths Under Quadratic Preferences

  • Figures

  • 7-1. Change in Expenditure Due to Aging, 2007–60

  • 7-2. Aging-Related Expenditure Under Different Scenarios, 2007–60

  • 7-3. Fiscal Sustainability, 2012–60

  • 7-4. Fiscal Sustainability Excluding No Measures Path, 2012–60

  • 7-5. Decomposition of Pension Expenditure Projections, 2007–60

  • Analytical Note 8: Modeling Optimal Fiscal Consolidation Paths in a Selection of European Countries

    • A. Introduction

    • B. Estimating the Fiscal Sustainability Gap

    • C. Modeling the Fiscal Consolidation Path

    • D. Calibration

    • E. Application of the Model to Countries

    • F. Concluding Remarks

  • Figures

  • 8-1. Fiscal Indicators for Selected European Countries

  • 8-2. Comparison of Predicted and Announced Fiscal Consolidation, 2011–15

  • 8-3. Predicted Fiscal Adjustment Paths and Associated Output Gaps, 2011–60

  • 8-4. Projected Paths for Closing Sustainability Gaps, and Costs of Delay

  • 8-5. Projected Evolution of Fiscal Balances and Debt, 2011–60

  • 8-6. Comparison of Predicted and Announced Fiscal Consolidation, 2011–15

  • Analytical Note 9: Costs and Benefits of Eliminating Mortgage Interest Deductibility

    • A. Introduction

    • B. Key Features of the Model

    • C. Parameterizing the Model

    • D. Long-run Benefits from Eliminating MID

    • E. Short-run Costs of Eliminating Mortgage Interest Deductibility

    • F. Timing the Elimination of Mortgage Interest Deductibility

    • G. Conclusions

  • Tables

  • 9-1. Parameter Values in the Model

  • 9-2. Steady-State Values of the Model

  • 9-3. Long-run Effects of Eliminating Mortgage Interest Deductibility

  • Figures

  • 9-1. User Cost of Housing and Interest Rate Responses

  • 9-2. House Price Reponses

  • 9-3. Nondurable Consumption and Residential Investment Responses

  • 9-4. Housing and Fixed Capital Responses

  • 9-5. Responses to Anticipated Shock

  • 9-6. Consumption Responses

  • 9-7. House Price Responses