THE WORLD IN 2OO8
105
The world in figures: Countries
Boiko Borisov, mayor of Sofia and leader
of Citizens for European Development
of Bulgaria, a rival party, could be the
beneficiary if NMSP defections trigger
early elections. The current-account gap
will narrow slightly, but at a staggering
18.4% of GDP it will remain a big
concern.
CroaTia
GDP growth:
5.4%
GDP:
$56bn (PPP: $69bn)
Inflation:
2.5%
Population:
4.6m
GDP per head:
$12,220 (PPP: $15,120)
Minor parties will hold the balance
of power after the November 2007
elections as they are courted by the
centre-left opposition Social Democratic
Party and the centre-right Croatian
Democratic Union. Kingmaker-in-
chief will be the newly allied Croatian
Social Liberal Party and Croatian
Peasants Party, which could swing
negotiations—though in which
direction is unclear. EU membership
could happen as early as 2009. Economic
growth will be a comfortable 5.4%.
CzeCh republiC
GDP growth:
4.2%
GDP:
$177bn (PPP: $245bn)
Inflation:
3.6%
Population:
10.2m
GDP per head:
$17,280 (PPP: $23,970)
Having failed twice in 2007 to push
through no-confidence votes against
the government, the opposition Czech
Social Democratic Party (CSSD) will hope
for third time lucky in 2008. The prime
minister, Mirek Topolanek, will try to
fend off the CSSD while preserving unity
in his three-party coalition government.
The task will be complicated by
squabbling within Mr Topolanek’s
own Civic Democratic Party over fiscal
reforms; this will determine the size
of the budget deficit in 2008, and the
timetable for euro adoption, with a
target date of 2012.
ausTria
GDP growth:
2.8%
GDP:
$390bn (PPP: $334bn)
Inflation:
2.0%
Population:
8.4m
GDP per head:
$46,600 (PPP: $40,120)
The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and
the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) will
continue their uneasy coalition, if only
because the rewards of co-operation
outweigh the challenge of regaining
public confidence ahead of early
elections. The SPÖ and the chan