Belgium Country Analysis Report analyzes the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental (PESTLE) structure of Belgium. The report provides a holistic view of the country from historical, current and future perspectives. Insightful analysis on critical current and future issues is presented through detailed SCPT (strengths, challenges, prospects and threats/risks) analysis for each of the PESTLE segments. In addition, the PESTLE segments are supplemented with relevant quantitative data to support trend analysis.

Uses of Country Analysis Reports:

Understanding gained from country profiles can be used to plan business investment or market entry in a particular country. The insights provide ideas about key business opportunities. The profiles also provide an overview of the legal and regulatory framework to start or operate a business in the country. Typical uses of each PESTLE segment are:
• Political section provides understanding about the political system and key figures relevant to business in the country and governance indicators.
• Economic section deals with the economic story of a country that provides a balanced assessment of significant macro-economic issues.
• Social section enables understanding of customer demographics through income distribution, rural-urban segmentation and centres of affluence, healthcare and educational scenario.
• Technological section provides strategic information on technology and telecom, technological laws and policies, technological gaps, patents and opportunity sectors in the country.
• Legal section provides information about the legal structure, corporate laws, laws to start a new business and the tax regime.
• Environmental section provides information on the country’s performance on environmental indicators and policies.

Overview 1
Catalyst 1
Summary 1
Key facts and geographic location 11
Key facts 11
Geographical location 12
PESTLE analysis 13
Summary 13
Political analysis 14
Economic analysis 17
Social analysis 22
Technological analysis 25
Legal analysis 29
Environmental analysis 32
Political landscape 35
Summary 35
Evolution 35
Structure and policies 37
Performance 43
Outlook 44
Economic landscape 46
Summary 46
Evolution 46
Structure and policies 49
Performance 52
Outlook 67
Social landscape 68
Summary 68
Evolution 68
Structure and policies 68
Performance 71
Outlook 74
Technological landscape 75
Summary 75
Evolution 75
Structure and policies 75
Performance 77
Outlook 82
Legal landscape 83
Summary 83
Evolution 83
Structure and policies 83
Performance 86
Outlook 87
Environmental landscape 88
Summary 88
Evolution 88
Structure and policies 88
Performance 89
Outlook 91
APPENDIX 93
Ask the analyst 93
Datamonitor consulting 93
Disclaimer 93

TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Map of Belgium 12
Figure 2: Belgium – key political events since independence 36
Figure 3: Key political figures in Belgium 38
Figure 4: Structure of government 39
Figure 5: Belgium Chamber of Representatives composition 41
Figure 6: Belgium’s historical GDP growth (1970–2008) 48
Figure 7: Market capitalization of the Euronext (Belgian companies) 50
Figure 8: GDP and GDP growth rate in Belgium, 2002–12 (real GDP at constant 2000 prices) 53
Figure 9: GDP composition by sector, 2008 54
Figure 10: Agriculture output of Belgium, 2001–08 55
Figure 11: Industrial output of Belgium, 2001–08 56
Figure 12: Service output of Belgium, 2001–08 57
Figure 13: Current account balance of Belgium, 2001–08 58
Figure 14: External trade of Belgium, 2001–08 60
Figure 15: Balance of trade of Belgium, 2000–07 61
Figure 16: FDI inflow in Belgium, 2002–08 62
Figure 17: Euro to dollar exchange rate, 2000–08 63
Figure 18: Consumer price index and CPI-based inflation in Belgium, 2002–08 64
Figure 19: Employment and growth rate in Belgium, 2001–08 67
Figure 20: Expenditure on healthcare in Belgium, 2002–12 72
Figure 21: Government’s expenditure on education in Belgium, 2002–12 74
Figure 22: Growth rate of mobile and fixed line subscribers in Belgium, 2002–12 78
Figure 23: Internet users and growth rate in Belgium, 2002–12 79
Figure 24: Expenditure on R&D in Belgium, 2000–07 82
Figure 25: Belgium’s judicial structure 84
Figure 26: Carbon dioxide emissions in Belgium, 2002–06 90
Figure 27: Carbon fuel usage in Belgium, 2002–06 91

TABLES
Table 1: Belgium – key fundamentals 5
Table 2: Belgium – key facts 11
Table 3: Analysis of Belgium’s political landscape 14
Table 4: Analysis of Belgium’s economy 18
Table 5: Analysis of Belgium’s social system 22
Table 6: Analysis of Belgium’s technology landscape 25
Table 7: Patents granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office to firms in major EU countries, 2000–08 27
Table 8: Analysis of Belgium’s legal landscape 29
Table 9: Analysis of Belgium’s environmental landscape 32
Table 10: Mid-year population by age (million), 2006 69
Table 11: Income distribution in Belgium 73
Table 12: Patents granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office to major developed countries, 2000–08 76
Table 13: Individual income tax rates in Belgium, 2009 85