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27/03/2019 - The Argentine economy is expected to begin emerging from its deep recession in 2019, but significant risks remain. Recovery from the crisis will require new efforts to restore confidence, build solid macroeconomic foundations, improve governance, create jobs and ensure that future growth is greener and benefits all Argentinians, according to a new report from the OECD.

The latest OECD Economic Survey of Argentina looks at the factors behind the country’s recent downturn, as well as policies that can lay the foundation for a stronger and more inclusive economy. The Survey projects the economy will contract by 1.5% this year before returning to a 2.3% growth rate in 2020.

The Survey, presented in Buenos Aires by Alvaro Pereira, director of the country studies branch in the OECD Economics Dept., and Argentina’s vice Minister of Finance Miguel Braun, highlights the importance of maintaining momentum on the ambitious economic reforms launched in recent years as well as gains to be made from greater integration in global trade.

“The Argentine economy has extraordinary potential, but economic policies have held back performance,” Mr Pereira said. “The severe economic crisis that unfolded during 2018 has pushed the economy into a deep recession, which requires immediate action to restore confidence and unwind significant fiscal and external imbalances. Looking ahead, the priority will be to speed up the reform process while ensuring that policies are in place to protect the most vulnerable groups and enable a return to stronger and more inclusive growth.”

The Survey shows how fiscal policy can be used to restore confidence, improve macroeconomic performance and promote more inclusive growth. Adherence to fiscal commitments will solidify public finances and convince markets of Argentine authorities’ willingness to resolve serious imbalances accumulated over many years. Remaining fiscal space can be used for well-targeted spending on social transfers to vulnerable groups.

Structural reforms will be key to foster future growth. Reducing domestic regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship and market entry, including at the level of provincial and local governments, will strengthen competition and boost activity. Strengthening the operation and financial autonomy of the anti-corruption office and guaranteeing adequate resource to fulfil its mandate would improve the business environment.

The Survey underlines that Argentina is significantly less integrated into the world economy than other emerging market economies, with high tariff barriers that shield it from international competition and often slow integration into global value chains. To foster Argentina’s integration into the global economy, the Survey highlights the need to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, starting with intermediate inputs and capital goods. Reducing trade barriers would raise consumer purchasing power, especially for low-income households, and would reduce firms’ costs, while pushing companies in currently shielded sectors or industries to become more productive.

The Survey recognises that while stronger integration presents large untapped potential for improving the living standards of all Argentinians, it also implies challenges for workers, as jobs may move across firms and industries. Such changes in the structure of the economy are necessary, as many jobs are currently trapped in activities with limited potential for productivity and wage growth. At the same time, policies must support workers in the transition. Ensuring a strong social safety net and bolstering adult training programmes and vocational education are key policy priorities, the Survey said.

An Overview of the Economic Survey of Argentina, with the main conclusions, is accessible at: http://www.oecd.org/eco/surveys/argentina-economic-snapshot.

For further information, journalists can contact Lawrence Speer (+33 1 4524 7970) in the OECD Media Office in Paris (+33 1 4524 9700).

Note to Editors:

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people worldwide. It provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to the economic, social and governance challenges they face.

The OECD’s 36 members are: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Colombia was invited to become a Member on 25 May 2018 and is in the process of completing its domestic procedures to accede to the OECD Convention, when it will become the 37^th OECD Member. Costa Rica is currently undergoing an accession process.

Argentina participates in the substantive work of many of the OECD’s specialised Committees and has adhered to selected OECD legal instruments. As a G20 country Argentina benefits from the broad OECD-G20 agenda, and participates in the development of standards for better global governance such as the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project and the OECD-G20 Principles of Corporate Governance. Further information on OECD cooperation with Argentina is available at: www.oecd.org/latin-america/countries/argentina.

In 2016, Argentina submitted a formal letter to the OECD, expressing its interest in initiating an accession process to the Organisation. The OECD governing body, the Council, is currently considering this request, together with similar requests from Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Peru and Romania.

Further information on the OECD accession process: www.oecd.org/legal/accession-process.htm.

Working with more than 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.