World Economic Outlook May 1996

The World Economic Outlook, published twice a year in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, presents IMF staff economists analyses of global economic developments during the near and medium term. Chapters give an overview of the world economy; consider issues affecting industrial countries, developing countries, and economies in transition to market; and address topics of pressing current interest. Annexes, boxes, charts, and an extensive statistical appendix augment the text.

This paper presents an outlook for the world economy for 1997. The paper highlights that the world economic growth quickened during 1996 following widespread deceleration of activity in 1995. Economic and financial conditions are generally propitious for the global expansion to continue in 1997 and the medium term at rates at least matching those seen during the past three years. The paper underscores that in many countries, structural reforms are enhancing the role of market forces and thereby strengthening the basis for sustained, robust growth.

The World Economic Outlook, published twice a year in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, presents IMF staff economists' analyses of global economic developments during the near and medium term. Chapters give an overview of the world economy; consider issues affecting industrial countries, developing countries, and economies in transition to the market; and address topics of pressing current interest. Annexes, boxes, charts, and an extensive statistical appendix augment the text.

Special topic: Global saving

This paper presents an outlook for the world economy for 1997. The paper highlights that the world economic growth quickened during 1996 following widespread deceleration of activity in 1995. Economic and financial conditions are generally propitious for the global expansion to continue in 1997 and the medium term at rates at least matching those seen during the past three years. The paper underscores that in many countries, structural reforms are enhancing the role of market forces and thereby strengthening the basis for sustained, robust growth.

The World Economic Outlook presents the IMF staff’s analysis and projections of economic developments at the global level, in major country groups (classified by region, stage of development, etc.), and in many individual countries. It focuses on major economic policy issues as well as on the analysis of economic developments and prospects. It is usually prepared twice a year, as documentation for meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, and forms the main instrument of the IMF’s global surveillance activities.

The World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercise at the IMF evolved during the 1980s, partly in response to demands by policymakers in national finance ministries for objective and internationally comparable projections and policy scenarios. The exercise had begun as a staff initiative, encouraged by the Managing Director (Johannes Witteveen). Gradually, the Executive Board, the Interim Committee, the Group of Seven, and others came to view the discussion of the WEO documents as an important element in their efforts to keep abreast of world economic developments and prospects. Direct and indirect feedback from those discussions informed the staff as to how the exercise should be improved. Driven by this policy relevance, the WEO evolved from a decentralized project that was only haphazardly model-based into a more rigorous and coordinated exercise.

The World Economic Outlook, published twice a year in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, presents IMF staff economists' analyses of global economic developments during the near and medium term. Chapters give an overview of the world economy; consider issues affecting industrial countries, and economics in transition to market; and address topics of pressing current interest. Annexes, boxes, charts, and an extensive statistical appendix augment the text.