1. Introduction: Setting the scene

In this chapter, you find some statistics about economic output and social spending.

1.1 Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP per capita)

The figure below show the Gross Domestic Product of Belgium (after correction for price changes). Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by country. Gross Domesic Product per capita (GDP per capita) is obtained by dividing the GDP of a country by the total numer of inhabitants of that country. Observe the effect of both World Wars and the steady increase between 1945 and 2008. 

1.2 Annual growth rate of GDP per capita

The figure below shows the growth rate of GDP per capita. Move to 2020 to see the effect of COVID-19 on the annual growth rate of GDP per capita.

1.3 Social spending as share of GDP

In this graph social spending is shown, expressed as share of GDP. Social spending includes, among others, the following areas: health, old age, incapacity-related benefits, family, active labor market programmes, unemployment, and housing.

1.4 Social spending broken down by policy areas

This figure shows social spending by policy area (old age, survivors, incapacity-related benefits, health, family, active labour market policies, unemployment, housing, and other) for Belgium. The country can be changed in the top right-hand corner.