Belgian financial conglomerates (FCs) remained important players in the Belgian financial sector, despite significant restructuring following the global financial crisis. FCs operated in multiple streams of the financial sector, especially in banking and insurance. Owing to their economic reach...

The Belgian economy showed considerable progress through 2011 in terms of both growth and employment. However, the 2013 Article IV Consultation underlines that the European recession has had a negative impact on its economy, giving rise to unemployment. The economy has entered its second year of...

This paper describes economic developments in Belgium during the 1990s. The moderate recovery experienced by Belgium in 1994 slowed in the course of 1995 as foreign demand faltered, and GDP growth for 1995 as a whole is now estimated at 2 percent. Domestic demand was supported by increased...

This Selected Background Issues paper analyzes the competitiveness issues for Belgium and analyzes in what sense competitiveness is important for the country. The paper summarizes the approach followed in Belgium to measure developments in this respect. It discusses alternative indicators,...