This publication looks at regional innovation in Wallonia, Belgium, by examining the political context, governance issues and the role of innovation in the economy, along with regional innovation strategies to promote growth.

Fighting foreign bribery is not a priority in Belgium. Together with the flagrant lack of resources for Belgian law enforcement authorities, this has resulted in very few foreign bribery investigations and prosecutions. In the 14 years since the entry into force of the foreign bribery offence in Belgium, only one case of bribery of foreign public officials has been concluded.

Highlights for Belgium from Pensions at a Glance which is a comprehensive examination of pension systems in OECD and selected non-OECD countries looking at recent trends in retirement and working at older ages, evolving life expectancy, design of pension systems, pension entitlements, and private pensions.

Note summarising the performance of Belgium in PISA 2012

This note presents key findings for Belgium from Society at a Glance 2014 - OECD Social indicators. This 2014 publication also provides a special chapter on: the crisis and its aftermath: a “stress test” for societies and for social policies.

Country profiles highlight some key findings from TALIS 2013 for individual countries and economies

According to a new OECD report, variation in rates of health care activity across geographic areas in countries is a cause for concern. Wide variation suggests that whether or not you will receive a particular health service depends to a very great extent on where you live within a country.

This publication highlights new evidence on policies to support job creation, bringing together the latest research on labour market, entrepreneurship and local economic development policy to help governments support job creation in the recovery. It also includes a set of country pages featuring, among other things, new data on skills supply and demand at the level of smaller OECD regions (TL3).

The Belgian economy has returned to growth and continues scoring well on broader measures of well-being, but further reforms will be needed to secure fiscal sustainability while promoting employment and competitiveness, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Belgium 2015.

Going for Growth 2015: Key findings for Belgium

Belgium is making a laudable push to direct more development aid to the poorest countries, but to deliver on this it needs to set firm deadlines, make its aid programme more flexible, and should reverse a decline in overall aid, according to an OECD Review.

The 2015 edition introduces more detailed analysis of participation in early childhood and tertiary levels of education. The report also examines first generation tertiary-educated adults’ educational and social mobility, labour market outcomes for recent graduates, and participation in employer-sponsored formal and/or non-formal education.

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has serious concerns regarding Belgium’s limited efforts to comply with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

Belgium shows average health outcomes compared to other OECD countries. Life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years, just above the OECD average. Quality of care is fair, standing again near the OECD average. Health expenditure at 10.2% of GDP is higher than the OECD average of 1.3% points in 2013. Health policy in Belgium relies on shared responsibility of both the federal authorities and federated entities (regions and communities).

This country note provides an environmental tax and carbon pricing profile for Belgium. It shows environmentally related tax revenues, taxes on energy use and effective carbon rates.

This country note presents student performance in science, reading and mathematics, and measures equity in education in Belgium. The interactive charts allow you to compare results with other countries participating in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Unemployment in Belgium fell back to its pre-crisis level sooner than in most other OECD countries, but then rose significantly again in 2012 and has only recently begun to decline again. At 6.8% in April, it was still above its pre-crisis level and 0.9 percentage points above the OECD average.

A combination of market-based policies and a redistributive welfare state have boosted Belgium’s per-capita GDP to well above the average of OECD countries and raised well-being, according to a new OECD report.

This note presents selected country highlights from the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2017 with a specific focus on digital trends among all themes covered.

This note presents marginal effective tax rates (METRs) that summarise the tax system’s impact on the incentives to make an additional investment in a particular type of savings. By comparing METRs on different types of household savings, we can gain insights into which assets or savings types receive the most favourable treatment from the tax system.

This country note for Belgium provides detail on the proportion of CO2 emissions from energy use subject to different effective carbon rates (ECR), as well as on the level and components of average ECRs in each of the six economic sectors (road transport, off-road transport, industry, agriculture and fishing, residential & commercial, and electricity).

The digital revolution, globalisation and demographic changes are transforming labour markets at a time when policy makers are also struggling with slow productivity and wage growth and high levels of income inequality. The new OECD Jobs Strategy provides a comprehensive framework and policy recommendations to help countries address these challenges

The Belgian standard VAT rate is 21.0%, which is above the OECD average. The average VAT/GST¹ standard rate in the OECD was 19.3% as of 1 January 2019. The previous standard VAT rate in Belgium was 20.5% in 1995. It changed to the current level in 1996. Belgium applies reduced VAT rates of 0%, 6% and 12% to a number of goods and services.

Risks That Matter 2018 Country Highlights: Belgium

This country note explains how Belgium taxes energy use. The note shows the distribution of effective energy tax rates across all domestic energy use. It also details the country-specific assumptions made when calculating effective energy tax rates and matching tax rates to the corresponding energy base.

The tax-to-GDP ratio in Belgium increased by 0.3 percentage points from 44.5% in 2017 to 44.8% in 2018. The corresponding figure for the OECD average was a slight increase of 0.1 percentage point from 34.2% to 34.3% over the same period.

Belgium’s tax, labour, pension and education reforms have improved the potential for stronger, sustainable and inclusive growth over the long term. Keeping up this momentum on structural reforms is key to energise the economy and keep it resilient to external risks and uncertainties, according to a new OECD report.

This note presents selected findings based on the set of well-being indicators published in How's Life? 2020.

The tax wedge for the average single worker in Belgium decreased by 0.5 percentage points from 52.7 in 2018 to 52.2 in 2019. The OECD average tax wedge in 2019 was 36.0 (2018, 36.1). In 2019 Belgium had the highest tax wedge among the 36 OECD member countries, occupying the same position in 2018.

Exports to Belgium in Turkey decreased to 262.34 USD Million in March from 312.17 USD Million in February of 2020. Exports to Belgium in Turkey averaged 257.43 USD Million from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 406.07 USD Million in November of 2018 and a record low of 172.07 USD Million in July of 2016. This page includes a chart with historical data for Turkey Exports to Belgium.

This note is taken from Chapter 2 of Economic Policy Reforms: Going for Growth 2012.

The global crisis led to a smaller increase in the unemployment rate than in most other OECD countries as employment has been sustained through intensive use of reduced working time schemes.

Belgium has a good record in delivering accessible care, but adaptation to population ageing will be complicated by the fragmentation of responsibilities in the healthcare system and a strong reliance on government regulations.

The Belgian economy has returned to growth and continues scoring well on broader measures of well-being, but further reforms will be needed to secure fiscal sustainability while promoting employment and competitiveness, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Belgium 2015.

Improving the labour market performance of immigrants requires a two-fold strategy. First, policies specific to migrants need to be enhanced. Second, general reforms to improve the functioning of the economy, desirable in any case, could also have a significant positive impact on immigrants.

Housing conditions in Belgium are among the best in OECD countries according to the Better Life Index, as dwellings are of high quality and large, and housing costs are average.

A combination of market-based policies and a redistributive welfare state have boosted Belgium’s per-capita GDP to well above the average of OECD countries and raised well-being, according to a new OECD report.

A favourable business environment is crucial to boosting Belgium’s productivity and inclusiveness and to sustain improvements in long-term economic prosperity.

A highly educated and skilled workforce has been an important driver of productivity performance and prosperity in Belgium.

This publication looks at regional innovation in Wallonia, Belgium, by examining the political context, governance issues and the role of innovation in the economy, along with regional innovation strategies to promote growth.

Household Saving Rate in Belgium decreased to 12.30 percent in the third quarter of 2019 from 13.10 percent in the second quarter of 2019. Personal Savings in Belgium averaged 15.48 percent from 1999 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 20.10 percent in the first quarter of 2009 and a record low of 11.20 percent in the first quarter of 2018. In Belgium, Personal Savings (Households Savings) correspond to the ratio of household income saved to household net disposable income during a certain period of time. This page provides - Belgium Personal Savings - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Belgium scored 75 points out of 100 on the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Index in Belgium averaged 70.34 Points from 1995 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 77 Points in 2015 and a record low of 52.50 Points in 1997. The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. A country or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). This page provides the latest reported value for - Belgium Corruption Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Belgium is the 17 least corrupt nation out of 175 countries, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. Corruption Rank in Belgium averaged 19.64 from 1995 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 29 in 1999 and a record low of 15 in 2013. The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. A country or territory's rank indicates its position relative to the other countries and territories in the index. This page provides the latest reported value for - Belgium Corruption Rank - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Wages High Skilled in Belgium decreased to 3050 EUR/Month in 2018 from 3090 EUR/Month in 2017. Wages High Skilled in Belgium averaged 3040 EUR/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 3110 EUR/Month in 2016 and a record low of 2910 EUR/Month in 2015. High Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing high-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Electricity Production in Belgium increased to 8406 Gigawatt-hour in December from 8253 Gigawatt-hour in November of 2019. Electricity Production in Belgium averaged 6669.79 Gigawatt-hour from 2008 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 8641 Gigawatt-hour in September of 2019 and a record low of 4047 Gigawatt-hour in August of 2015. This page has Electricity Production values for Belgium.

Belgium 10Y Bond Yield was 0.05 percent on Friday May 8, according to over-the-counter interbank yield quotes for this government bond maturity. Historically, the Belgium Government Bond 10Y reached an all time high of 10.73 in March of 1990. Generally, a government bond is issued by a national government and is denominated in the country`s own currency. Bonds issued by national governments in foreign currencies are normally referred to as sovereign bonds. The yield required by investors to loan funds to governments reflects inflation expectations and the likelihood that the debt will be repaid.

Exports to Belgium CMLV in Russia increased to 1412.30 USD Million in February from 764.90 USD Million in January of 2020. Exports to Belgium CMLV in Russia averaged 3291.04 USD Million from 2006 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 9226 USD Million in December of 2014 and a record low of 116.80 USD Million in January of 2006. Russia accounts for Exports to Belgium using cumulative values for each year (CMLV). This page includes a chart with historical data for Russia Exports to Belgium.

Housing Starts in Belgium increased to 3.81 Thousand in December from 3.70 Thousand in November of 2015. Housing Starts in Belgium averaged 3.89 Thousand from 1973 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 9.50 Thousand in April of 1975 and a record low of 0.73 Thousand in December of 1983. In Belgium, Housing Starts is measured by the actual construction starts for new houses. This page provides - Belgium Construction Starts - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Wages Low Skilled in Belgium increased to 1890 EUR/Month in 2018 from 1870 EUR/Month in 2017. Wages Low Skilled in Belgium averaged 1870 EUR/Month from 2015 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1950 EUR/Month in 2016 and a record low of 1770 EUR/Month in 2015. Low Skilled Wages refer to highest estimate of wage of workers doing low-skilled jobs, calculated from sample of wages collected by WageIndicator surveys.

Imports from Belgium in Netherlands decreased to 3510000 EUR THO in February from 3686000 EUR THO in January of 2020. Imports from Belgium in Netherlands averaged 3390686.46 EUR THO from 2014 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 4093000 EUR THO in October of 2018 and a record low of 2703792 EUR THO in January of 2015. This page includes a chart with historical data for Netherlands Imports from Belgium.