Europe > Belarus > Economy

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Agriculture > products grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Aid as % of GDP	0.1%		[127th of 129]
Definition: Economy > Aid as % of GDP
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005
Debt > External	$9,272,000,000.00		[79th of 136]
Definition: Economy > Debt > External
Source: calculated on the basis of data on ODA from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Development Assistance Committee. 2002. DAC Online. Database. Paris.; and data on GDP from World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Distribution of family income > Gini index	29.7		[19th of 43]
Definition: Economy > Distribution of family income > Gini index
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Economic freedom	0.7		[153rd of 156]
Definition: Economy > Economic freedom
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Economy > Overview Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure by central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world. Because of these restrictive economic policies, Belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment. Nevertheless, GDP growth has been strong in recent years, reaching nearly 7% in 2007, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing, rate of inflation. Belarus receives heavily discounted oil and natural gas from Russia and much of Belarus' growth can be attributed to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices. Trade with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner - decreased in 2007, largely as a result of a change in the way the Value Added Tax (VAT) on trade was collected. Russia has introduced an export duty on oil shipped to Belarus, which will increase gradually through 2009, and a requirement that Belarusian duties on re-exported Russian oil be shared with Russia - 80% will go to Russia in 2008, and 85% in 2009. Russia also increased Belarusian natural gas prices from $47 per thousand cubic meters (tcm) to $100 per tcm in 2007, and plans to increase prices gradually to world levels by 2011. Russia's recent policy of bringing energy prices for Belarus to world market levels may result in a slowdown in economic growth in Belarus over the next few years. Some policy measures, including tightening of fiscal and monetary policies, improving energy efficiency, and diversifying exports, have been introduced, but external borrowing has been the main mechanism used to manage the growing pressures on the economy.
Definition: Economy > Economy > Overview
Source: The Heritage Foundation
Exports	$24,470,000,000.00		[61st of 189]
Definition: Economy > Exports
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GDP	$36,945,290,000.00		[63rd of 203]
Definition: Economy > GDP
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GDP > PPP	$67,902,000,000.00		[62nd of 163]
Definition: Economy > GDP > PPP
Source: World Development Indicators database and CIA World Factbook
GDP > Real growth rate	8.2%		[29th of 198]
Definition: Economy > GDP > Real growth rate
Source: World Bank. 2005. World Development Indicators 2005.
GDP growth > annual %	9.24 annual %		[13th of 187]
Definition: Economy > GDP growth > annual %
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
GINI index	29.72		[20th of 40]
Definition: Economy > GINI index
Source: World Development Indicators database
Gross National Income	$12,860,600,000.00		[72nd of 172]
Definition: Economy > Gross National Income
Source: World Development Indicators database
Human Development Index	0.786		[67th of 178]
Definition: Economy > Human Development Index
Income category	Lower middle income
Definition: Economy > Income category
Source: Human Development Report 2006, United Nations Development Programme
Income distribution > Poorest 10%	5.1%		[1st of 114]
Definition: Economy > Income distribution > Poorest 10%
Source:
Income distribution > Richest 10%	20%		[114th of 114]
Definition: Economy > Income distribution > Richest 10%
Source: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Population below poverty line	27.1%		[28th of 46]
Definition: Economy > Population below poverty line
Source: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC
Poverty > Share of all poor people	0.02 % of world's poor		[66th of 80]
Definition: Economy > Poverty > Share of all poor people
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008
Tourist arrivals	254,000		[93rd of 152]
Definition: Economy > Tourist arrivals
Source: Country Responsibilities in Achieving the Millenium Development Goals", April 8 2003, by Janice Poling

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