The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just released its “World Economic Outlook”, which forecasts global growth to average 3.3% in 2014 – unchanged from 2013 – and to rise to 3.8% in 2015 that is weaker growth than expected. The IMF says that the outlook for 2014 reflects setbacks to economic activity in the advanced economies during the first half of 2014, and a less optimistic outlook for several emerging market economies. Olivier Blanchard, Economic Counselor and head of the IMF’s Research Department, explains that in advanced economies, the legacies of the pre-crisis boom and the subsequent recession, notably high debt burdens and unemployment, still cast a shadow on the recovery, and low potential growth ahead is a concern. As a result, several emerging markets will need to also adjust to lower potential growth.
The IMF reports that growth in general for Latin America and the Caribbean would be on average 1.3% for 2014 and 2.2% for 2015. Growth for the DR, boosted by high government spending and borrowing, is set at 4-5% in 2015.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2014/NEW100714A.htm