Growth Rates of 3 Percent ‘Relic of Economic History,’ IHS Finds

Potential growth in advanced economies to average 1.8 percent from 2020-2045; Asia-Pacific will have five highest potential growth markets in the same period

The long-term potential growth rate for advanced economies will decelerate to an average of 1.8 percent, down from average potential growth of 2.5 percent during 1990–2007, according to an analysis utilizing the Global Link Model from IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), the leading global source of critical information and insight.

Although actual real gross domestic product (GDP) growth will fluctuate over business cycles and may well exceed 2.5 percent, or even 3.0 percent, the longer-term trend growth rate for advanced economies is 1.8 percent. For the United States, long-term growth potential is 2.3 percent per year.

In the long-term (2020–2045), the five economies with the highest potential growth are all in Asia-Pacific (in descending order): India, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and China. The next five highest potential growth countries are in Latin America, North Africa, and Sub Saharan Africa: Chile, South Africa, Peru, Egypt, and Angola.

The countries with the lowest long-term potential growth rates tend to be advanced economies, where demographic factors are most likely to impinge on growth. In the long-term, the five economies with the lowest potential growth rates are Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Kuwait, and Portugal.

Potential real GDP measures an economy’s productive capacity and it is assumed that in the long run, the short-term imbalances that cause business cycles are smoothed out such that actual real GDP converges to potential. Long-term growth is determined by the available labor supply, available private and public capital stock, energy infrastructure and total factor productivity (TFP).

The IHS Global Link Model links 68 individual country models—accounting for 95 percent of global GDP— with each other and with global drivers of economic performance. Learn more about the IHS Global Link Model.

About IHS (www.ihs.com)

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of insight, analytics and expertise in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 150 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.

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