Global Prospects and Sources of Economic Growth

Abstract

Global output declined by 1 per cent in 2009, but the pace of recovery has been relatively rapid, especially in economies outside the OECD. We estimate that the level of global GDP regained its pre-crisis peak in the first quarter of 2010 (see figure A3 in the Appendix). The volume of world trade in goods and services remained some 6 per cent below its pre-crisis peak in the first quarter, but has rebounded by nearly 10 per cent since the trough reached in the second quarter of 2009 (see figure A2 in the Appendix). China remains a vital source of global demand. GDP increased by 11.9 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2010, while imports of goods in US$ terms rose by more than 60 per cent over the same period. India also bears little scarring from the global crisis and the economy expanded rapidly throughout 2009. Other Asian economies, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, have also recovered rapidly from the global recession, expanding by 6.3, 3.3 and 4.5 per cent, respectively, in the second half of 2009. Outside of Asia, Brazil and Mexico have seen a strong rebound in growth, although the level of output in Mexico remains well below its pre-crisis peak.