The World Bank has forecast global economic growth to edge up to 3.1 percent in 2018, after a much stronger-than-expected
2017.
This came about, as the recovery in investment, manufacturing, and trade continues, and as commodity-exporting developing economies benefit from firming commodity
prices.
However, this is largely seen as a short-term upswing. Over the longer term, slowing potential growth a measure of how fast an economy can expand when labour and capital are fully employed—puts at risk, gains in improving living standards and reducing poverty around the world, the World Bank warns in its January 2018 Global Economic Prospects.
Growth in advanced economies is expected to moderate slightly to 2.2 percent in 2018, as central banks gradually remove their post-crisis accommodation and as an upturn in investment levels
off.
Growth in emerging market and developing economies as a whole is projected to strengthen to 4.5 percent in 2018, as activity in commodity exporters continues to recover.
The President, World Bank Group, Mr. Jim Yong Kim, said, “The broad-based recovery in global growth is encouraging, but this is no time for complacency. This is a great opportunity to invest in human and physical
capital.
If policy makers around the world focus on these key investments, they can increase their countries’ productivity, boost workforce participation, and move
closer to the goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.”
