AMSTERDAM: The Dutch economy is poised to grow by 2.1% this year and 1.8% in 2018, the government’s macro-economic think tank CPB said on Friday in a new report. Both years will show a budget surplus and unemployment will continue to fall, the CPB said.
Earlier on Friday, national statistics office CBS said the government booked a budget surplus of nearly €3 billion last year, the first surplus since 2008. The budget surplus figures are welcome news for the next government and clear the way for new spending initiatives. Both unions and employers were quick to stake their claims.
The FNV, the country’s biggest trade union federation, says the money should go on softening the impact of the rising state pension age on people doing hard physical labor.
Employers organization VNO-NCW says the new cabinet should invest heavily in future-proofing the Dutch economy by stimulating the development of the circular economy, plus energy efficiency and digitalization.
