Economic news and analysis

Over the past two centuries, the Belgian economy has evolved from an agricultural economy to an industrial one, and eventually into a knowledge economy. Education has become increasingly important. Today, highly educated workers dominate the labour market, and the majority of them are women. Yet their catch-up process is not complete when we look at leadership positions within companies, despite the growing number of female entrepreneurs. 

Even as AI adoption accelerates and companies restructure, fear of unemployment among Belgian households is at its lowest level on record. This article explores whether this optimism is a result of government policy, confusion surrounding unemployment figures, or an underestimation of the potential impact of AI on the labour market.

In recent weeks, a wave of optimism has swept through European stock markets, even as political crises have accumulated in the United States. Spring is shaping up to be promising.

Our forecast of the current year, in collaboration with Ghent University, has quarterly growth at 0.3%. This represents a slight improvement on the NBB’s most recent flash estimate for Q4, which stood at a mere 0.2%.

Europe is pinning its hopes on the knock-on effect of Germany’s commitment to increasing public investment to modernise the country and bolster its defence capabilities. But less than a year after the new German chancellor took office, doubts are beginning to emerge.

China may dominate rare earths, but its public finances are under growing strain. Rising debt, widening deficits, weak consumption and a faltering property market are forcing Beijing to reform tax collection and rein in spending. Welcome to the realities faced by developed economies.