The cyclical upswing between 2005 and 2007 differs significantly in a number of ways from the last boom phase from 1997 to 2000. The most recent upswing was about one year shorter. A comparison of the two cycles also shows considerable differences in the structure of economic development: in...

The world economy continues to expand at a vigorous rate for the fifth year in a row, with real output growth exceeding 5 percent. Downside risks to global economic activity have increased mainly because of the aggravation of the real estate crisis in the USA, where real estate prices have been...