11/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/08/2024 06:04
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its concluding statement on the Finnish economy on Friday 8 November.
According to the IMF, Finland's economy has started to recover from recession. Moderate growth of 1.6% is projected for the economy in 2025, and growth of slightly below 1½% in the medium term. Finland's economic outlook is nevertheless subject to downside external risks, including the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine.
The IMF recommends that Finland's policy actions should focus on supporting growth and strengthening the economy. The IMF's policy recommendations emphasise fiscal consolidation and reversal of the debt trajectory, and measures to raise labour force participation and lower barriers to growth for businesses.
The concluding statement discusses in more detail the economic outlook and risks, as well as government finances, productivity growth and financial markets, among other things.
The IMF monitors the economic health of its member countries on a regular basis. IMF staff visit each country annually, meeting extensively with different concerned parties. At the end of these Article IV consultations, a concluding statement is published describing the preliminary findings of the IMF staff. A final report on the member country's economy is published at a later date.
The IMF's concluding statement is based on discussions held by IMF representatives with Finnish authorities as well as representatives of social partners, private financial institutions, research institutes and other relevant parties. The assessments and views in the statement are those of the IMF staff. The Bank of Finland publishes unofficial translations into Finnish and Swedish of an IMF-prepared summary of the concluding statement.
The concluding statement can be accessed in full on both the Finland page of the IMF's website and the Bank of Finland's website (www.suomenpankki.fi/en).
Summary in English (PDF)
Concluding statement (PDF)
Background information on the Bank of Finland's international cooperation and the IMF
For further information, please contact:
Anni Norring, Senior Economist
anni.norring(at)bof.fi, tel. +358 9 183 2120