Belgian economy grows without government

The economy of the EU grew by 0.2 percent in the second trimester of 2011, according to Eurostat. In the same period Belgium registered a comparatively high growth rate of 0.7 percent. Having no government seems to be doing the country good, the daily Adevărul comments: "How to explain the 'Belgian wonder'? Since 2010 the government (if you can call it that: while it does see to the most pressing administrative matters it hasn't the slightest political power) hasn't dared to introduce anything remotely resembling austerity measures. Moreover it has pegged salaries to inflation. Consequently the economic growth is for the most part - even if unintentionally - spurred on by consumption. ... And while the Belgian economy grows because there is no government to stop it, Germany and France are stagnating."

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Economic Policy, » Belgium, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Liviu Antonesei

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, September 6, 2011