Download GDP growth in 2015 was driven by a generous fiscal stimulus and

News from Argentina
29th April 2016
Thai Trade Center, Buenos Aires
By Guillermo H. Rivarola
IMF praises Argentina's new focus despite an expected contraction of 1% this year
Argentina's GDP is expected to contract by about 1% in 2016, according to the latest IMF Regional Economic Outlook;
Western Hemisphere, announced on Wednesday in Mexico. The chapter on Argentina makes a special mention of the
new government's changes to remove macroeconomic imbalances.
“GDP growth in 2015 was driven by a generous fiscal stimulus and buoyant activity in the construction and agriculture
sectors. Economic activity has slowed in recent months, and although the suspension of publication of some key official
statistics makes forecasts particularly uncertain, GDP growth is expected to contract by about 1 percent in 2016,” the
IMF said.
“The new policy framework, however, has improved the medium-term outlook, with GDP growth expected to rebound to
about 2,75% in 2017,” the paper added.
The report praised the changes the new government has implemented: “The new government has embarked on an
ambitious, much needed transition to remove macroeconomic imbalances and distortions that had stifled investment and
eroded competitiveness.”
The IMF considered “foreign exchange controls were scaled back in December 2015, resulting in an initial 40 percent
devaluation of the peso that largely closed the gap between official and parallel exchange rates; several constraints on
international trade have been removed; export taxes on agriculture products have been eliminated or reduced; and
utilities tariffs have been raised to contain the fiscal impact of energy subsidies, with mechanisms aimed at mitigating
the impact on the more vulnerable segments of the population.”
However, it pointed out the problem of inflation in Argentina, which has increased significantly in the first months of
2016. “Risks to the outlook remain on the downside given the unfavorable external environment and domestic
challenges, in particular the risk that sustained inflationary pressures could require a tighter monetary policy,” it
concluded.
Source: Mercopress
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