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World Bank cuts its growth forecast
By Joe McDonald |
June 23, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE World Bank has cut its 2009 global growth forecast, saying the world economy will shrink by 2.9 percent and warning that a drop in investment in developing countries will increase poverty.
"The global recession has deepened," the Washington-based multilateral lender said in a report.
Global trade is expected to plunge by 9.7 percent this year, while total gross domestic product for high-income countries contracts by 4.2 percent, the bank said. It said economic growth in developing countries should slow to 1.2 percent - but excluding relatively strong China and India.
The bank's latest forecast is a sharp reduction from its March prediction of a 1.7 percent global contraction, which it said then would be the worst on record.
Economic damage to developing countries "has been much deeper and broader than previous crises," warned the report, issued on Sunday in Washington, the United States.
"Unemployment is on the rise, and poverty is set to increase in developing economies," it said.
The global economy should start to grow again in late 2009, but "the expected recovery is projected to be much less vigorous than normal," the report said.
It said banks' ability to finance investment and consumer spending would be hampered by the overhang of unpaid loans and devalued assets.
"To break the cycle and revive lending and growth, bold policy measures, along with substantial international coordination, are needed," the World Bank said.
Investment to developing countries plunged by an estimated 39 percent in 2008 to US$707 billion, the World Bank said.
Foreign direct investment in developing countries is projected to drop by 30 percent this year to US$385 billion.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia have been hit hardest and the region's GDP is expected to plunge by 4.7 percent this year, the bank said. It said growth should recover next year to 1.6 percent.
GDP in Latin America should shrink by 2.3 percent this year before rebounding to expand by 2 percent in 2010.
In the Middle East and North Africa, growth is expected to fall by half to 3.1 percent. East Asia should post a 5 percent expansion, supported by China's growth.
"The global recession has deepened," the Washington-based multilateral lender said in a report.
Global trade is expected to plunge by 9.7 percent this year, while total gross domestic product for high-income countries contracts by 4.2 percent, the bank said. It said economic growth in developing countries should slow to 1.2 percent - but excluding relatively strong China and India.
The bank's latest forecast is a sharp reduction from its March prediction of a 1.7 percent global contraction, which it said then would be the worst on record.
Economic damage to developing countries "has been much deeper and broader than previous crises," warned the report, issued on Sunday in Washington, the United States.
"Unemployment is on the rise, and poverty is set to increase in developing economies," it said.
The global economy should start to grow again in late 2009, but "the expected recovery is projected to be much less vigorous than normal," the report said.
It said banks' ability to finance investment and consumer spending would be hampered by the overhang of unpaid loans and devalued assets.
"To break the cycle and revive lending and growth, bold policy measures, along with substantial international coordination, are needed," the World Bank said.
Investment to developing countries plunged by an estimated 39 percent in 2008 to US$707 billion, the World Bank said.
Foreign direct investment in developing countries is projected to drop by 30 percent this year to US$385 billion.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia have been hit hardest and the region's GDP is expected to plunge by 4.7 percent this year, the bank said. It said growth should recover next year to 1.6 percent.
GDP in Latin America should shrink by 2.3 percent this year before rebounding to expand by 2 percent in 2010.
In the Middle East and North Africa, growth is expected to fall by half to 3.1 percent. East Asia should post a 5 percent expansion, supported by China's growth.
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