World Economic Outlook April 1989

This paper highlights that the world economic condition improved significantly during 1988. In industrial countries, output growth strengthened markedly in an environment of moderate inflation. World trade expanded at its fastest rate since 1984, which had important spillover effects on many developing countries, particularly the exporters of manufactures; significant progress was made in reducing external imbalances among the major industrial countries; and the aggregate debt-to-exports ratio of developing countries was reduced. At the same time, several aspects of the current situation continue to demand the attention of policymakers.

This paper highlights that after two years of rapid growth in 1987 and 1988, there are now signs that the economic expansion in industrial countries is moderating to more sustainable rates. Inflation pressures have built up over 1988, reflecting high levels of resource utilization as well as certain temporary factors, but monetary conditions have been tightened substantially. Although the risk of a dangerous acceleration of inflation still exists, it appears to have diminished somewhat. Growth has also been strong in many developing countries, particularly exporters of manufactures.

This paper highlights that the world economic condition improved significantly during 1988. In industrial countries, output growth strengthened markedly in an environment of moderate inflation. World trade expanded at its fastest rate since 1984, which had important spillover effects on many developing countries, particularly the exporters of manufactures; significant progress was made in reducing external imbalances among the major industrial countries; and the aggregate debt-to-exports ratio of developing countries was reduced. At the same time, several aspects of the current situation continue to demand the attention of policymakers.

Major macroeconomic realignments are affecting prospects differentially across the world’s countries and regions. The April 2016 WEO examines the causes and implications of these realignments—including the slowdown and rebalancing in China, a further decline in commodity prices, a related slowdown in investment and trade, and declining capital flows to emerging market and developing economies—which are generating substantial uncertainty and affecting the outlook for the global economy. Additionally, analytical chapters examine the slowdown in capital flows to emerging market economies since their 2010 peak—its main characteristics, how it compares with past slowdowns, the factors that are driving it, and whether exchange rate flexibility has changed the dynamics of the capital inflow cycle—and assess whether product and labor market reforms can improve the economic outlook in advanced economies, looking at the recent evolution and scope for further reform, the channels through which reforms affect economic activity under strong versus weak economic conditions, reforms’ short- to medium-term macroeconomic effects, and sequencing of reforms and coordination with other policies to maximize their potential quantitative economic benefits. A special feature analyzes in depth the energy transition in an era of low fossil fuel prices.