ISSUES & IDEAS

Pump-Priming in Europe

by Bruce Stokes

Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009


In 2009, economic stimulus efforts by European Union countries in the form of tax cuts and new government expenditures will total about 110.2 billion euros, or $143 billion, approximately 0.8 percent of the Union's gross domestic product. Below are the planned stimulus packages for the 13 E.U. member states that account for 90 percent of the E.U. market.

Tax cuts and fiscal expenditures for the 13 largest European Union countries

                  Billions,     % GDP
                  in Euros

Germany           35.8            1.4
United Kingdom    16.7            1.0
France            14.3            0.7
Spain             12.3            1.1
Austria            3.9            1.3
Netherlands        2.2            0.4
Poland             1.6            0.5
Belgium            1.2            0.3
Sweden             0.1            0
Denmark            0.0            0
Ireland            0.0            0
Greece             0.0            0
Italy             -0.3            0