Macroeconomic Imbalances - Bulgaria

Macroeconomic Imbalances - Bulgaria PDF Author: European Commission. Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Balance of payments
Languages : en
Pages : 50

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Book Description
This in-depth review takes a broad view of the Bulgarian economy in order to identify actual or potential imbalances and the possible macroeconomic risks which they may entail. Following an economic boom in 2006-2008, the necessary adjustment is taking place. But the burden on the labour market is unnecessarily high. Moreover, more needs to be done to ensure the sustainability of the adjustment once the economy recovers to its growth trend. The main observations of this review are: Following EU accession, some notable internal and external imbalances built up in the Bulgarian economy. The labour market has been hit hard by the crisis and the reintegration of low-skilled workers has proven difficult. The main labour market challenges relate to skills mismatches in some sectors and regions. Despite a pronounced deceleration, unit labour cost (ULC) growth remains one of the fastest in the EU. The current account adjustment is largely structural and is driven by sizable export market share gains, but major vulnerabilities remain. Deleveraging of the corporate sector is on-going, but the still high level of indebtedness will lengthen the adjustment process and keep the corporate sector vulnerable to changes in market sentiment. Fiscal policy is facilitating the adjustment process. In this context, the in-depth review concludes that Bulgaria is experiencing macroeconomic imbalances, which are not excessive but need to be addressed. In particular, the level of external indebtedness as well as certain macroeconomic developments related to corporate sector deleveraging and the adjustment process through labour markets deserve attention so as to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the functioning of the economy. Possible policy responses should focus on reducing skills and regional labour market mismatches and on reviewing the minimum thresholds for social security contributions. Also, emphasis on boosting total factor productivity remains crucial given that the deleveraging of the corporate sector will probably dampen investment. As a small open catching-up economy with unfettered capital flows and a fixed exchange rate tends to be inherently volatile, macroeconomic policies and banking regulation in Bulgaria should focus on reducing the risks of repeating boom-cycles and on strengthening the risk absorption capacity of economic agents.

Macroeconomic Imbalances - Bulgaria

Macroeconomic Imbalances - Bulgaria PDF Author: European Commission. Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Balance of payments
Languages : en
Pages : 50

Get Book Here

Book Description
This in-depth review takes a broad view of the Bulgarian economy in order to identify actual or potential imbalances and the possible macroeconomic risks which they may entail. Following an economic boom in 2006-2008, the necessary adjustment is taking place. But the burden on the labour market is unnecessarily high. Moreover, more needs to be done to ensure the sustainability of the adjustment once the economy recovers to its growth trend. The main observations of this review are: Following EU accession, some notable internal and external imbalances built up in the Bulgarian economy. The labour market has been hit hard by the crisis and the reintegration of low-skilled workers has proven difficult. The main labour market challenges relate to skills mismatches in some sectors and regions. Despite a pronounced deceleration, unit labour cost (ULC) growth remains one of the fastest in the EU. The current account adjustment is largely structural and is driven by sizable export market share gains, but major vulnerabilities remain. Deleveraging of the corporate sector is on-going, but the still high level of indebtedness will lengthen the adjustment process and keep the corporate sector vulnerable to changes in market sentiment. Fiscal policy is facilitating the adjustment process. In this context, the in-depth review concludes that Bulgaria is experiencing macroeconomic imbalances, which are not excessive but need to be addressed. In particular, the level of external indebtedness as well as certain macroeconomic developments related to corporate sector deleveraging and the adjustment process through labour markets deserve attention so as to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the functioning of the economy. Possible policy responses should focus on reducing skills and regional labour market mismatches and on reviewing the minimum thresholds for social security contributions. Also, emphasis on boosting total factor productivity remains crucial given that the deleveraging of the corporate sector will probably dampen investment. As a small open catching-up economy with unfettered capital flows and a fixed exchange rate tends to be inherently volatile, macroeconomic policies and banking regulation in Bulgaria should focus on reducing the risks of repeating boom-cycles and on strengthening the risk absorption capacity of economic agents.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484382099
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that Bulgaria achieved modest economic growth in 2014, which is expected to continue in 2015, albeit at a lower rate. Consumer prices declined by an average 1.6 percent in 2014, among the sharpest contractions in the European Union, but are projected to turn positive late in the year. The banking system has shown substantial resilience to the damage to confidence resulting from the bank failure. The budget targets a 3 percent of GDP deficit in 2015, and a further 0.5 percentage point reduction per year in coming years. Measures to improve the composition and quality of expenditure and mitigate contingent liabilities arising from state-owned enterprises remain the key.

OECD Economic Surveys: Bulgaria 2021 Economic Assessment

OECD Economic Surveys: Bulgaria 2021 Economic Assessment PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264406662
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
The COVID-19 outbreak abruptly stopped several years of robust economic growth in Bulgaria. Public finances are sound and the government took rapid action to support firms and households. Coping with the pandemic and strengthening the recovery will require continued fiscal support, public investment and the advancement of priority reforms.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria PDF Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451804318
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 133

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Book Description
This paper reviews economic developments in Bulgaria during 1990–95. In 1993, GDP continued to contract, albeit more slowly than previously. Real GDP declined by 2.4 percent owing to a drought-induced collapse in agricultural output. As consumption-driven imports rose and exports fell, the lower real GDP in 1993 was accompanied by a large current account deficit. The adoption of restrictive fiscal and incomes policies in 1994 enabled Bulgaria to retain the gains in external competitiveness acquired from the nominal depreciation.

Diversity of Capitalism in Central and Eastern Europe

Diversity of Capitalism in Central and Eastern Europe PDF Author: Eric Magnin
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031049500
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
This book explores the hypothesis of the emergence of a ‘dependent capitalism’ in Central and Eastern Europe. In a first theoretical part, this book presents the main approaches that structure the field of comparative capitalism and then examines this model shaped by the inflow of foreign capital. In an original way, it proposes to integrate the form of the monetary regime into the dependent capitalism analysis and to extend it to Balkan countries. The monetary regime is seen as complementary to the other elements of the institutional configuration of dependent capitalism. In the second part, the authors adopt a historical and empirical perspective. First, they demonstrate how dependent capitalism has emerged in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States over the last 30 years as part of the process of socio-economic transformation that began in 1990. The crisis of 2008 was an indicator of this dependence on Western capital. Secondly, they extend the analysis to the Balkan countries and show that dependence is even stronger for them, particularly in the monetary area, as evidenced by the implementation of currency boards or euroization phenomena. This book is of interest to academics and students, as well as to business and economic policy makers.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria PDF Author:
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821349625
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
The purpose of this country study is to evaluate Bulgaria's progress in its transition from plan to market and preparing for membership to the European Union. It examines economic developments during the 1990's with a focus on the 1997-1999 period. This study describes the structural and institutional reforms implemented during this period, their impact and the prospects for accession to the European Union.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria PDF Author: Leila Zlaoui
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821354001
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
This is the first public expenditure and institutional review on Bulgaria by the World Bank. The objective of this study is to outline public expenditure issues and policy directions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of pubic expenditures in Bulgaria. It assesses fiscal sustainability and analyzes the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditures and their institutional framework. Bulgaria has made substantial progress toward long-term macroeconomic stablility. Growth has been re-established, per capita income has improved, inflation has remained low, poverty has been reduced, and the external debt to GDP ratio has declined. Furthermore, the share of the private sector in the economy is increasing, major regulatory reform is underway, the banking sector is on more solid footing, and energy pricing reforms are improving efficiency, and reducing the fiscal burden. But challenges remain in the five sectors looked at - education, health, social protection, the state railways and energy sectors.

Macroeconomic Imbalances

Macroeconomic Imbalances PDF Author: European Commission. Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Balance of payments
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
On 14 February 2012, the European Commission presented its first Alert Mechanism Report (AMR), prepared in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances. The AMR serves as an initial screening device, helping to identify Member States that warrant further in-depth analysis to determine whether imbalances exist or risk emerging. According to Article 5 of Regulation No. 1176/2011, these country-specific ?in-depth reviews? should examine the nature, origin and severity of macroeconomic developments in the Member State concerned which constitute, or could lead to, imbalances. On the basis of this analysis, the Commission will establish whether it considers that an imbalance exists and what type of policy follow-up it will recommend to the Council. For Slovenia, the AMR noted that two indicators in the scoreboard exceeded their thresholds in 2010 and suggested the need to assess the development and drivers of potential imbalances. The AMR explained that in the years before the crisis, Slovenia enjoyed strong growth and domestic demand conditions, coupled with some losses in price competitiveness and a gradual widening of the current account deficit. It identified signs that overheating occurred, particularly as regards private sector credit growth, construction value added and property prices. The Slovenian economy was hit hard by the global crisis and the AMR noted that this has brought some, perhaps temporary, adjustment in the external balance but this is still at an early stage. Against this background, Section 2 examines the external and internal dimensions of imbalances including developments in competitiveness, private sector indebtedness and in asset markets. This is followed by a closer look at the implications of indebtedness of non-financial corporations for the banking sector in Section 3. Section 4 presents possible policy considerations.

Handbook of the Economics and Political Economy of Transition

Handbook of the Economics and Political Economy of Transition PDF Author: Paul Hare
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135080860
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 683

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Book Description
Transition from central planning to a market economy, involving large-scale institutional change and reforms at all levels, is often described as the greatest social science experiment in modern times. As more than two decades have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is now an excellent time to take stock of how the transition process has turned out for the economies that have moved on from socialism and the command economy. This new handbook assembles a team of leading experts, many of whom were closely involved in the transition process as policymakers and policy advisors, to explore the major themes that have characterized the transition process. After identifying the nature of initial conditions and the strengths and weaknesses of institutions, the varying paths and reforms countries have taken are fully analyzed – from the shock therapy, privatization or gradualism of the early years to the burning issues of the present including global integration and sustainable growth. Topics covered include the socialist system pre-transition, economic reforms, institutions, the political economy of transition, performance and growth, enterprise restructuring, and people and transition. The country coverage is also extensive, from the former socialist countries of the USSR and the satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe to the Asian countries of China, Vietnam and others. The rise of China as a key actor in the drama is chronicled, along with the emergence of a new, more confident, oil-rich Russia. The comparative prosperity of the Central European countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic is contrasted with the mixed fortunes of the former USSR, where some countries are stagnating while others boom. This Handbook of the Economics and Political Economy of Transition is the definitive guide to this new order of things in the former Communist world.

National Intellectual Capital and the Financial Crisis in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Poland

National Intellectual Capital and the Financial Crisis in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Poland PDF Author: Carol Yeh-Yun Lin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461480183
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 141

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Book Description
In the first decade of the twenty-first century, the biggest event of worldwide proportion was the 2008 global financial crisis, which was caused primarily by ineffective governance, failed surveillance systems, and implementation flaws. While fiscal and monetary policies succeeded in pulling many countries out of a financial freefall, most economies have performed beneath pre-recession levels as governments continued to struggle with their finances. Examining the financial crisis from the viewpoint of intangible assets provides a different perspective from traditional economic approaches. National Intellectual Capital (NIC), comprised mainly of human capital, market capital, process capital, renewal capital, and financial capital, is a valuable intangible asset and a key source of national competitive advantage in today’s knowledge economy. The authors—pioneers in the field—present extensive data and a rigorous conceptual framework to analyze the connections between the global financial crisis and NIC development. Covering the period from 2005 to 2010 across 48 countries, the authors establish a positive correlation between NIC and GDP per capita and consider the impact of NIC investment for short-term recovery and long-term risk control and strategy formulation. Each volume in a series of SpringerBriefs on NIC and the financial crisis provides in-depth coverage of the impact of the crisis, the aftermath, future prospects, and policy implications for a regional cluster. This volume focuses on Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Poland.