OECD Economic Outlook, Volume 2010 Issue 2
The OECD Economic Outlook analyses the current economic situation and examines the economic policies required to foster a sustained recovery in member countries. This issue covers the outlook to end-2012 for both OECD countries and selected non-OECD economies. Together with a wide range of cross-country statistics, the Outlook provides a unique resource to keep abreast of world economic developments.
In addition to the themes featured regularly, this issue contains a special chapter entitled “Fiscal consolidation: Requirements, timing, instruments and institutional arrangements. It addresses the following questions: How much budget consolidation is required in individual OECD countries to stabilise the ratio of government debt to GDP and what are the requirements to bring gross debt ratios to 60% of GDP? What factors should determine the appropriate speed of consolidation? What instruments should be employed for consolidation and what kind of public spending should be cut and what kind of taxes should be raised? What fiscal rules and institutions are most likely to foster consolidation?
Ireland
The economy is undergoing massive adjustment. Past imbalances are unwinding in banking, the housing market, the government budget and the labour market, leaving a large impact on public debt and unemployment. After two years of deep recession, activity seems to have reached a bottom in the first half of 2010. A mild recovery is projected to be driven by exports, while domestic demand is likely to remain sluggish. The government intends to continue policies to bring the fiscal accounts closer to balance and to restore competitiveness. If sustained, this should help bolster activity and support employment growth in the medium run.