Invest.climate; macroeconomic conditions international comparison 1990-2012

Table explanation

Description topics

Inflation

Development of the general price level, based on the European harmonised consumer price index (Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices; (HICP)). Harmonised means that figures are made comparable between countries. As a result, the figure can differ from the consumer price indices according to the Dutch definition published by Statistics Netherlands elsewhere.
The figures for Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, United States and the OECD average were not harmonised with the European indices.
Therefore they are not directly comparable.

Source: Eurostat, Structural Indicators; OECD Main Economic Indicators.

Long-term interest rate

Yield of 10-year government bonds.
Except for:
Belgium: yield of over 5-year government bond.
South Korea: yield of 5-year government bond.
Canada: yield of over 10-year government bond.
Germany: yield of 9 to 10-year government bond.
Ireland: yield of 15-year government bond.

Source: OECD Economic Outlook 89.

Net borrowing/lending consolidated gover

Net borrowing/lending of consolidated general government sector. Income and expenditure with a capital character are included, such as land purchases and sales, sale of UMTS licences (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), investments, investment contributions, turnovers from sales of gas and (specifically Dutch) the buying off of the annual subsidy to housing corporations in 1995.
Financial transactions like the sales of participations or providing credit, for instance to companies or student loans, are not considered as relevant income or expenditure for the balance.

Sources: Eurostat, OECD Economic Outlook 89.

General government debt

Nominal value on 31 December of the year concerned. Government includes national and local government and social security funds.
There are differences between national definitions of general government debt, and the EU definition (EMU debt). For EU countries, the EU definition is used.

Source: OECD Economic Outlook 89.

Unemployment

For most countries the labour force is based on data from the labour force survey. For countries for which such data is not available labour force is compiled by adding together the number of employed and unemployed. These data can be taken from another source. For the exact way of calculating of national figures we refer to the source.

Source: OECD Economic Outlook 89.

Imports and exports, related to GDP

A country with an open economy is characterised by intense trade relations with other countries. The openness of the economy is calculated as follows: (exports in current prices + imports in current prices) divided by (Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in current prices).

Source: European Commission, AMECO database.

Goods trade with non-EU countries

European Union (EU)
Alliance of European states that was established in 1993 by the Maastricht Treaty, but with precursors in the 50s of the last century, aimed at achieving common goals on political, economic and legal terms. An important goal is the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital within the EU. In many areas, Member States have transferred competences to the EU. There are also areas where the self-determination of Member States has been maintained and decisions can only taken by consensus. This indicator gives an idea of the trade in goods with countries outside the European Union. The sum of goods imports and goods exports to countries outside the European Union is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Source: European Commission, AMECO database.