Economic growth in the developing economies of the Europe and Central Asia region is stabilizing after a series of crises but at levels well below the early-2000s, says the World Bank’s Economic Update for the region, on October 17, 2024.
Regional growth is expected to moderate to 3.3% this year from 3.5% in 2023, slowing further to 2.6% in 2025. This is significantly weaker than the 5.1% average growth of 2000-09 and below what is needed for the region’s middle-income countries to achieve their aspiration of attaining high-income status within a generation or two. Lower inflation is prompting some central banks to start cutting policy rates this year. Policy caution prevails, however, amid concerns about persistent price pressure.
The report calls for a major overhaul of education systems across the region, particularly higher education, to unlock the human talent needed to reinvigorate economic growth and boost convergence with high-income countries.
At this online seminar, Ivan Torre, Senior Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia, and Sergiy Kasyanenko, Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia, World Bank, presented the main points of the report.
Speaker:
Ivan Torre
Senior Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia, World Bank
Sergiy Kasyanenko
Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia, World Bank
Presentation Material
Better Education for Stronger Growth - Europe and Central Asia Economic Update Fall 2024 (PDF)