However, the country recovered well and has improved its GDP considerably in the past decade.
The economic performance of Iceland has been good in recent years, with a growth in GDP over the past decade of 4% per annum, significantly bettering OECD growth over that period. Because of this, per capita GDP has recovered most of the ground lost in a preceding period of sluggish growth, making the country the fifth-wealthiest in the OECD on that benchmark:
Most of the rise in trend growth reflects productivity gains following the implementation of widespread structural reforms, which opened the economy and enhanced competition. Financial-market liberalization and privatization have unleashed entrepreneurial dynamism. Many companies have expanded abroad, and the country now plays a role that belies the small size of its economy. Labor markets have been increasingly opened to foreign participants, helping to reduce labor market tensions. ("Economic survey of Iceland 2006" para. 1)
In spite of this good performance, a number of indications bode ill for future development. One problem has been high demand and output volatility and recurrent sizeable macroeconomic imbalances, which have tended to increase. The current level of excess demand is found to be larger than in the previous boom in the late 1990s, and this is also true for the current account deficit, which stood at 161/2 per cent of GDP in 2005 and so is easily the highest in the OECD. At the same time, households and firms have become highly indebted, leading to concerns and considerable financial market turbulence. The exchange rate and stock prices both dropped sharply this year, though down from historically high levels. Inflation has reached 8%, caused by rising import prices and capacity pressures in goods and labor markets:
Excess demand not only reflects large-scale aluminium-related investment projects, but also surging household spending (on both consumption and housing). With hindsight, the response of macroeconomic policies to signs of overheating was insufficient. Secretariat projections suggest that, despite a slowdown in domestic demand due to higher interest rates and the gearing down of the investment projects, inflation pressures and external deficits will remain substantial in the near-term. The recent wage agreement is intended to reduce uncertainty about the inflation outlook but will increase inflation in the short-term. Against this backdrop, a further currency depreciation and an additional build-up of inflationary pressures cannot be excluded, implying a harsher adjustment process. ("Economic survey of Iceland 2006" para. 2)
Certain priorities are noted by analysts for how to maintain growth. The priority in the near-term is intended to ensure the swift restoration of macroeconomic balance through a coordinated effort of monetary and fiscal policy. The economy has shown a high degree of resilience and the impressive capacity to adjust following the overheating episode of the late 1990s, but at this time, the imbalances are more severe. Without swift and vigorous policy action, financial market stability could be at risk. Also, there is room for strengthening the framework of monetary and fiscal policy alike to make implementation more effective, moves which would reduce the risk...
Iceland The location of the launch of the bed & breakfast chain is Iceland. Iceland is a modern democracy with the capitalist economy. Tourism is a relatively minor sector of the Icelandic economy, but has been growing in importance in recent years (CIA World Factbook, 2014). Iceland's main draws are its natural scenery complete with volcanoes, mudfields and other geothermal wonders, as well as waterfalls and the city of Reykjavik, which
Iceland Banking Crisis The banking crisis that occurred in Iceland first emerged in 2008 and continued for a few years by most accounts. The small country had experienced a vast number of consolidations of banking and financial services over the years and there were only a few dominate players in this industry. Much of the industry had been opened up through liberalization in the industry's regulations that had allowed for a
Over the next three and a half years they grew to over $140 billion" (Lewis 2009, p.1). "By 2006 the average Icelandic family was three times as wealthy as it had been in 2003, and virtually all of this new wealth was one way or another tied to the new investment-banking industry," while the real estate market, so vitally necessary to the lifestyle of most Icelanders, also expanded stratospherically.
Iceland's Economic Crisis Web Iceland's bankruptcy The purpose of banking in Iceland: speculation and hedging The central issue: too much too soon Iceland's Transition Replicating Wall Street Taking on foreign "assets" at a ratio to GDP of 10:1 Is debt an asset? Easy credit and the role of the Housing Financing Fund Low interest rates f. Inflation g. The end of short-term financing in the wake of Lehman's collapse h. The bubble bursts The plight of the average citizen j. Aliber's speech k. Left holding the
This program is focused onto the following directions: Generating stability with exchange rates Rebuilding confidence in the monetary policy Better managing and restricting public debt Reforming and restructuring the banking sector to insure more transparency and the implementation of internationally recognized policies (The Icelandic Government Information Center, 2008). 4. Short-term forecast for the economy The 2008 has severely impacted the Icelandic economy. In light of the dramatic effects as well as the efforts put into
Sustainability in Iceland It is essential that modern businesses of all sizes focus on putting the planet into the bottom line. An article from The Economist suggests that all businesses, including small businesses like the bed-and-breakfast, should focus on implementing a triple bottom line. The first two are more traditional, with the first being profit or the bottom line of the profit and loss measurements. The second is people, thus being
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now