Economic outlook rosy despite political uncertainty

The good news is that the right-wing populists performed less well than feared and that the center-right party of the incumbent PM Rutte (VVD) emerged as the strongest party and not the PVV – especially with regard to the future government’s European policy and the risks of a “Nexit”. As four parties will be needed to form a majority, coalition talks are likely to be protracted and the new government will ultimately be fragile.

In the event of a prolonged phase of political uncertainty, we believe that this could knock  0.2 percentage points off economic growth – due mainly to a drag on private investment. On the other hand, however, companies are benefiting from greater pricing flexibility and rising demand. Overall, the Dutch economy is in fact doing pretty well: as in the past two years, gross domestic product is likely to grow by around 2% in 2017. Unique to the Netherlands is the fact that the rebound in the construction sector is making a considerable contribution. In addition, compared with other eurozone countries, private consumption is also playing a pivotal role, buoyed by Dutch inflation rates close to zero in 2015 and 2016. Inflation will be appreciably higher this year (+1.6%), but private consumption will continue to be bolstered by the improvement on the labor market (unemployment rate: 6.8%). However, the above-average high level of household debt is a drag and a cloud on the horizon.

The relatively close economic ties with the UK also pose a risk to the Netherlands in the medium term. On the other hand, in terms of public finances, the future government will inherit a fairly comfortable situation: the public-sector deficit and debt ratios are both heading south. In the case of the latter, there is a good chance that this will drop below the 60% mark this year. This will give the coalition talks a certain “room for maneuver” without coming into conflict with the European level.

Ana Boata

Euler Hermes
Phone +33.1.84.11.48.73

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Claudia Broyer

Allianz SE
Phone +49. 69.24431-3667

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