La compétitivité de la Belgique : d’où venons-nous, où allons-nous ?

Abstract

In the five years after the financial crisis of 2008, the competitiveness of the Belgian economy deteriorated. Starting in 2014, the government took a set of corrective measures to improve wage competitiveness. These measures helped to restore competitiveness, export market shares, and the current account balance. Employment has increased significantly, and the economy is moving towards full employment. Under these conditions, labor shortages will drive up wages and the 1996 law as reformed in 2017 will have to be strictly enforced. The social and environmental context is pushing to radically change budgetary priorities with the end of reductions in general and untargeted employer social security contributions and more resources devoted to education, training, research, and public investment.