This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix explores four policy issues—fiscal policy, public sector pension reforms, monetary management, and labor market performance—which are crucial for understanding the recent performance of the economy of the Netherlands Antilles and which will need to be addressed to restore the prospect of durable economic growth. The paper reviews experience with fiscal adjustment in the Netherlands Antilles, focusing in particular on the 1996–97 adjustment program. The paper also analyzes the sustainability of the public pension system of the country.

The paper provides a brief review of economic developments and policies in the Netherlands Antilles. The government’s current adjustment initiative provides a much needed opportunity for restoring growth prospects for the Netherlands Antilles. The paper has looked into issues pertaining to the development and prospects of the Antillean offshore sector. The picture emerging is one of a sector that, after initial spectacular growth, has encountered a number of obstacles. Nevertheless, it has been able to continue to register positive, albeit more moderate, growth.

This Selected Issues paper for the Kingdom of the Netherlands reports the Antillean economy lacks natural resources and is open and undiversified, relying mainly on exports of services such as tourism, international financial services, shipping, and oil refining. Exports and domestic consumer spending, both private and public, drove the economic recovery. Economic growth in the United States and the appreciation of the euro against the national currency contributed to the strong performance in the tourism sector.

Antilles (Netherlands) Business and Investment Opportunities Yearbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Opportunities