For each topic the obiectives, instruments and performance of the policy concerned are expounded. In the field of fiscal policy special attention is drawn to the rather large deficit of the budget, its consequences and possible remedies. The section on monetary policy deals in particular with the discussion around the maintaining of the Belgian franc within the European small snake and with the argumentation of the Belgian central bank against the monetarist's contention in favour of the monetary rule.

On august 9th 1980 the Belgian government took a number of important decisions with relation to the ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp. The author takes this occasion to analyse and to evaluate the existing seaport policy in Belgium. The first section tries to give an answer to the question : why do public authorities intervene in port activities? Subsequently the article deals with the fundamental data for a port policy until 2000 and with the institutional organisation of this policy. The (...) two last sections present an analysis of the general orientation as far as investment, competition, employment, environment and international relations are concerned. The author arrives at the conclusion that seaport policy in Belgium has to be prepared in a more systematic way and coordinated with other branches of transport, energy and economic policy. (shrink)

A drastic change in economie and monetary policy, which started in 1982, has up to now resulted in a normalisation of the rate of inflation and the balance of payments. However, the growth rate of GNP is still low and unemployment high. Budget deficits, public debt and related interest payments are in proportion to GNP between the highest in the industrialised world. Economic events and political constraints hampered the efforts of the government to restore the situation. In 1986 a new (...) plan was introduced and approved by Parliament, confirming an important cut in public expenditures. The existing burden of taxation already leads to a series of negative effects and a small open economycannot stay indifferent against the international movements towards lower taxes. So a tax reform in Belgium can only mean a restructering, leading to a decrease in personal income tax, largely compensated by an increase in indirect taxes. Further cuts in primary public expenditures will be unavoidable, but have to take into account, more than in the past, the repercussions on economie evolution in the long run. (shrink)