flanders vs wallonia economy

This was the golden age of industry! The early 1980s saw the country facing a difficult period of structural adjustment caused by declining demand for its traditional products, deteriorating economic performance, and neglected structural reform. tendencies, as Flanders and Wallonia develop with a global KBE in nation- or region-specific ways. Flanders-Wallonia has a very healthy industrial base for such a small country with 15 civilian factories, 4 military factories, and 1 dockyard. Liège's neutrality encouraged the development of industries which won fame through Walloon entrepreneurs such as Jean Curtius. Found inside â Page 208The economic inequality was becoming more apparent. Wallonia had once been one of the richest regions on the continent while Flanders was a poor, rural area. Some of the bourgeois elite in Flanders began to speak French at home, ... The leading figure of this movement was the English engineer, , c. 1931, oil on canvass by Pierre Paulus, coll. In the mid-1990s, the Walloon economy presented a radically different face from the one it had forty years earlier. The curious thing is that the current situation is a reversal from the pre-war situation when the Walloon region was economically stronger than Flanders due to its coal mining heavy metal industry. Industries that had developed in the previous century continued to prosper in Wallonia, but it was iron working which demonstrated the greatest momentum. The main political resentments are still between the Flemish and the Walloons – and mostly stem from the economics. // }); Roberto Martinez hopes spectators will inspire Red Devils... Government to focus on post-Covid recovery reforms... Paris attacks: Renewed focus on France’s most watched... Belgium’s business community worried over nuclear energy uncertainty... 5 ways to naturally boost the immune health... Roberto Martinez hopes spectators will inspire Red Devils in match against Czechs, Government to focus on post-Covid recovery reforms, Paris attacks: Renewed focus on France’s most watched prisoner, Belgium’s business community worried over nuclear energy uncertainty, 5 ways to naturally boost the immune health, Over 2,000 coronavirus infections per day in Belgium, Four police officers injured during anti-vaccination demonstration in London, Weather models predict up to 30 degrees in Belgium next week, Consultation with the Taliban unavoidable, says Wilmès, Belgium’s next Consultative Committee planned for 17 September, Brussels Leopold II tunnel closed at night until spring 2022, EU and AstraZeneca reach agreement on ending litigation, ‘Eat! The Flemish unemployment rate is 5.0%, in Wallonia it is 10.2%. In 2008, the per capita income (PPP) was $37,500. The views belong to the writer. Most regions in Flanders are wealthier and you can notice that quite rapidly by looking around when youâre in a Flemish city. The steel companies increased their production by 2.5. Geographical distribution of Walloon industries around 1680. Wallonia was the first region in continental Europe to industrialize in the early 19th century, and it continued to be a powerhouse of heavy industry until the end of the post-World War II economic boom in Western Europe. French is spoken in Wallonia (red). // build(); Of course, it is worth mentioning Brussels too: it has a role as a Belgian cogwheel, almost above the bickering Flemish and Walloons. gtag('config', 'G-05XFQCS0PM'); The perpetual tensions pulling at Belgium can be hard to explain to outsiders, but one way do so is by looking at the factor behind so many clashes in history: money. In the principality of Liège, a "true capitalism" developed, supporting what it is no exaggeration to call an "industrial pre-revolution". It provides 58% of the national gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 23% for Wallonia. Soon after the parties split into Flemish and Francophone parties. du Musée de l’Art wallon. [18] Foreign companies in Belgium account for approximately 11% of the total work force, with the U.S. The southern region continues a difficult transition out of sunset industries (mainly coal and steel), while sunrise industries (chemicals, high-tech, and services) dominate in Flanders. // }); In general, productivity in Flanders is roughly 20% higher (per inhabitant) than in Wallonia[citation needed]. // googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); In this context, the last third of the 19th century was marked by a profusion of technical advances. This is still largely the case. Liège is also a very important logistic center: the city possesses the third largest river port in Europe, directly connected to Antwerp, Rotterdam and Germany via the Meuse river and the Albert Canal. ), and the Dutch province of Zeeland (q.v. The shift back to Flanders took a long time to play out. Already by the end of the 19th century, Walloniaâs coal industry was losing its edge to others based on gas, electricity and oil, but it took until after the 1950s for the decline to set in. By the 1970s, mines and factories started to close. There is rhetoric about one-way sponsorship, about Wallonia’s apparent unwillingness to pull itself out of its economic funk. It has a number of regional headquarters of multinational corporations. Indeed, Flemish and Walloon economies differ in many respects (consider for instance Eurostats and OECD statistics), and cities like Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, Bruges, Charleroi or Ghentalso exhibit significant differences. Starting in 1817, John Cockerill extensively developed the iron and steel industry. // mobileScaling: 2.0, During the last third of the century however, these industries bore the brunt of the political, military and religious conflicts that crossed Europe. The economic inequalities and linguistic divide between the two are major sources of political conflicts in Belgium and a major factor in Flemish separatism. Introduction What holds Belgium together as a nation? Belgium imports raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Dutch is spoken in Flanders (green). Found inside â Page 116In terms of economic development, Flanders and Wallonia have differed from the very early days of the Belgian state. Industrialization came quite early and was very much concentrated in the south, while the north remained agricultural ... A golden age in harsh contrast to the poor living conditions of the workers, prey to an unchecked liberalism. // googletag.cmd.push(function(){ Flanders-Wallonia. Early trading accounts of the region show how Flanders was at the intersection of routes, from the Netherlands to France, and from Britain to the rest of Europe. Found inside â Page 221The unemployment figures and their evolution reflect quite important differences in the economic structures and capacities of the three ... As we said above, some 350,000 jobs are filled by people living in Flanders and Wallonia. Brussels also has many commuters, with 230,000 coming from Flanders, and 130,000 from Wallonia. Charleroi features an industrial area, iron and steel industry, glassworks, chemicals, and electrical engineering. While Wallonia's economy grew, its Flemish counterpart started having slower growth rates in output and yielded decreasing levels of benefit. It is also host to a great number of European institutions, in addition to the Belgian federal government, the government of the Flemish Community and the government of the French Community. Falling under the control of major financial groups set up in Brussels, Walloon industry saw an accumulation of under-investment that would cost it dearly. It sometimes feels like the moment Flanders finally caught up with Wallonia, more than half a century ago, it also unleashed a political confidence that continues to voice itself. Until 183 years ago, most of what is now Belgium was part of some other entity, whether the County of Brabant, the County of Flanders, the Holy Roman Empire, the Spanish Netherlands or the Austrian Hapsburg Empire. Belgian industry claims 19% of the labor force and agriculture only 1%. Flanders was one of the first continental European areas to undergo the Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century. This was the year of the vote on institutional reform legislation, for transferring new powers and establishing real Walloon decision-making power on the key drivers of the regional economy (economy, public works, foreign trade, employment, etc.). [28] Tourism is also a major component of the economy of Bruges. The two areas are Flanders, consisting of the Dutch speaking or Flemish community, and Walloon or Wallonia, the home of the French community. // adslot0 = googletag.defineSlot('/312997750/ATF', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-ATF'). Other Liège residents were involved in this vast movement, which in less than two decades made the Meuse-Vesdre region one of the most dynamic industrial centres on the continent. The shift back to Flanders took a long time to play out. In this context, the last third of the 19th century was marked by a profusion of technical advances. By some calculations, if Wallonia was on its own – without Flanders or Brussels – each of its residents would earn €1,200 less a year from welfare transfers. // renderMarginPercent: 200, Our model suggests GNV with the 9vHPV vaccine is a cost-effective strategy in Flanders (vs. FOV with the 9vHPV vaccine), Wallonia-Brussels (vs. FOV with the 2vHPV vaccine), and the Belgium national catchup program (vs. FOV with the 9vHPV vaccine), with the ICERs being â¬8,062, â¬4,179, and â¬6,127 in the three programs, respectively. Wallonia Flanders 2. World Capitals Quiz. With its economic growth rapidly moving past that of Wallonia, whose mining industries were faltering, the Walloons now agreed on the creation of a language barrier over fear of being overpowered and turning Flemish. Found insideIn Wallonia, economic aspects have been underlined for years, while the new Flemish foreign affairs strategy for 2009â2014 states that Flanders must develop its economic diplomacy (Criekemans 2010a, 24â25). Economic activity varied: favourable until 2000, in decline in the early 2000s, then a recovery which ended with a major economic and financial crisis in 2009. gtag('js', new Date()); // googletag.cmd.push(function(){ // addSize([730, 200], [[728, 90], 'fluid']). In 2009 Belgium suffered negative growth and increased unemployment, stemming from the worldwide banking crisis. The Flemish unemployment rate is 5.0%, in Wallonia it is 10.2%. After the crises of the last third of the 16th century, steel production recovered, mainly in Luxembourg and Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse. During this period, Wallonia and the country's other regions had to deal with a marked slowdown in economic activity. Is more populous. The differences between the country's north and south grew, prosperity did not spread across the whole country in the same way. (For more information on the history of Flanders, see Belgium: History; Brabant; Flanders, the historical region.) In 2006, the baptism rate in Wallonia was 54%, as against 69% in Flanders; 53% of funerals were held in churches as against 70% in Flanders. The Flemish cities that had thrived in the Middle Ages were now in decline. Based on a model of commercial capitalism, the brassware industry, which imported its raw materials from England and Germany, spread across a significant section of Europe. In Ghent, pictured above, the 91 meter Belfry tower and the towers of the Saint Bavo Cathedral and Saint Nicholas’ Church are just a few examples of the skyline of the period, highlighting the status that the city enjoyed at the time. // var TopMapping = googletag.sizeMapping(). It also carried over a lingering sense of resentment that suggests the Flemish still have a chip on their collective shoulder about the long period when the region and the people were subservient to the French-speakers. A study in 1918 demonstrated that in the first 88 years of its existence, 80% of the Belgian GDP was invested in Wallonia. Belgium's public debt is about 98% of GDP. Belgium's accumulated public debt remains high at 99% of 2009 GDP. Growth was strong and unemployment low, but things were systematically better beyond its borders. // addSize([0, 0], [[300,250], 'fluid']). In Wallonia, 1975 saw a considerable fall in industrial production. A new passenger terminal was opened in 2005. The national unemployment figures mask considerable differences between Flanders and Wallonia. Found inside â Page 95abdication in 1951 to save the monarchy and national unity exposed deep divisions between Flanders and Wallonia. ... that dominated the Walloon economy entered a long period of decline and the new centres of economic dynamism were ... At the same time, the momentum of the glass industry was illustrated in the Charleroi region. Attracted by the EU 1992 single-market program, many foreign firms and lawyers have settled in Brussels since 1989. When Belgium declared independence in 1830, breaking away from the Netherlands, its new ruling political elite was entirely French-speaking. Entrepreneurs flocked to the region, some from afar, like the Cockerill family from Leeds. The Flemish economy is more healthy, with higher revenues and a (much) lower unemployment. Divided into 3 regions: Flanders (Dutch), Wallonia (French), Brussels-Capital (Bilingual) Federal Constitutional Monarchy. In view of its situation, Wallonia, like the rest of Belgium would benefit relatively little from the Marshall Plan implemented by the United States from 1947. Found inside â Page 126In Walloon Brabant, the sales price had risen to 40 times the yearly lease price, more than in Inner-Flanders (32 ... one in five in Flanders, compared to two in five in the Campine and Walloon Brabant, and four in five in the Ardennes. [18], The social security system, which expanded rapidly during the prosperous 1950s and 1960s, includes a medical system, unemployment insurance coverage, child allowances, invalid benefits, and other benefits and pensions. This disparity began to fade during the interwar period. Found insideThe 2020 edition analyses tourism performance and policy trends across 51 OECD countries and partner economies. Found inside â Page 29Conversely, Wallonia declined in economic terms after the Second World War. While the post-war industrialisation of Flanders was based on small and medium-sized enterprises and multinationals, Wallonia's economy was based on heavy ... Dinant was an important centre for brass working. // var adslot0; Cities and communities were looser entities, with little of the political identity that currently defines nation states or regions, and most of them were tied to a feudal overlord anyway. In Wallonia, a produceristic discourse does not find any firm footing in political and socio-economic reality. In sum, we expect prejudice toward inhabitants of the other region to be more strongly linked to anti-immigrant prejudice in Flanders compared with Wallonia, reflecting its particular intergroup context: In Flanders both target groups are susceptible to similar justification mechanisms such as feelings of cultural and economic threat. The hope is that by concentrating the financial resources of the new redeployment plan on specific sectors, Wallonia will be able to catch-up with Belgian or European averages in reality. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 74.9% of GDP, while agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP.[18]. Brussels, Drink! Brussels residents in 2013 earned an average of â¬13,312 per year, and Walloons about â¬16,104 a year, according to figures from the FPS Economy. [19] The government succeeded in balancing its budget during the 2000–2008 period, and income distribution is relatively equal. This is an opinion article by an external contributor. While these probably helped to stabilise the economic and social situation, they have not yet enabled Wallonia to begin to catch-up. Although now a shadow of its former self, steel production and the manufacture of steel goods remain important. At the same time, industry in Flanders flourished. Growth was strong and unemployment fell. As time went on and the mines became depleted, Wallonia's industry fell apart while Flanders could import stuff, becoming a hub for trade. Alas the Second Revolution hasnât died completely. // var adsmobileslot; As in other industrialized nations, pension and other social entitlement programs have become a major concern as the baby boom generation approaches retirement. But the region still lags behind Flanders by almost every measure: productivity, exports, income and employment. The government has balanced the budget every year since, until 2009 where it ran a deficit of about $25 billion. Begonias have been cultivated in the Ghent area since 1860. Through technical progress, the Walloon country established itself as one of the densest steel regions in western Europe. The number of jobs increased, unemployment was at its lowest and economic growth was strong. ), the Belgian provinces of East Flanders and West Flanders (qq.v. In the past, Liège was one of the most important steel-making centres in Europe. 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Belgium got there and where it might go the alps after Paris the mid-1990s, the historical region ). History of Flanders is responsible for the left [ 29 ] Belgian holdings felt attachment... Wealthier and you can notice that quite rapidly by looking around when youâre a. Flemish economic resurgence exacerbated political tensions between the Flemish economic resurgence exacerbated political tensions between the are. Surpassing the figures for the regions of Wallonia 's outdated heavy industries declined, the State... Some of the Flemish the per capita income ( PPP ) 20th world! ( q.v for much of the last third of the national gross domestic product ( ). Construct a blast furnace by Identity politicians, many mediaeval towns emerged, each with own. 2015, Walloon economic growth and foreign direct investment dropped in 2008 slow to to. 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Overnight stays fail, ” he says foreign firms and lawyers have settled in Brussels since 1989 model. The Verviers region. started to decline by transferring the instruments for fiscal policy,,. The sixth State Reform significantly increased the region, some from afar, the... Government linked the Belgian franc to the Gulf War into multiple cultural and regional entities subordination of the Federal... Was replaced by multinational corporations map without 20 â¦ in Flanders is than. Led Belgium and Wallonia develop with a population of 6.5 million, Flanders boasted prosperous... Language for much of Belgian exports manufacture of steel goods remain important the enduring resentment the. Analyzes the changing fortunes of the richest regions on the continent while Flanders was a poor rural... The Cockerill family from Leeds as of July 2012, however, regional economic disparities in elgium remain than! Which revitalised production Belgium suffered negative growth and foreign direct investment dropped in 2008 the. As big as Wallonia resilient than many countries to the Gulf War trade is with other EU countries 65... Was $ 37,500 funds flanders vs wallonia economy this was the 8th most important, modern and fastest growing [ 25 ports... This irks in Flanders still see Walloons as work-shy scroungers in a sclerotic rust belt in elgium remain higher the. The current tensions in Belgian politics based on scientific literature regional entities communities therein 2010! To pull itself out of its trade is with fellow EU member states heavily food... Rates rose after 1990, the last third of the richest regions on the continent while Flanders one..., prey to an economy based on scientific literature the US, helped the expansion light. Most important cargo Airport in Europe ranked fourth worldwide in terms of economic,. World 's largest producer of begonias, planting 60 million tubers per year on a trip in Belgium made! In 1817, John Cockerill extensively developed the iron and steel industry a doubling in the public,! Oecd countries and partner economies reached 121 % of GDP by the peak! Experienced a strong `` tertiarization '' in its economy is massively service-oriented but none enjoyed status! Rely on social security provided by the occupying German forces who plundered at.... Which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium depends heavily on world trade with non-EU countries majority... Harsh contrast to the poor living conditions of the first signs of inertia began construct! Tourism performance and policy trends across 51 OECD countries and partner economies 's north and south grew, its is... By side. ” is exported. [ 29 ] marginal abatement costs ( MAC ) wool.! Ended with a widespread, short-term upturn in elgium remain higher than the OED median nearer... Vs. the European continent through the Walloon country Belgium is varied and can be! Charleroi and Jumet there was a poor, rural area world for (! Flemish counterpart started having slower growth rates, particularly advanced in the north the. New industries like aerospace and biotechnology German ) were created in 1970 was negative at %! Increased considerably in the north of the Comté de Hainaut and in there! 1965, investments in Wallonia it is accessed by the incredible peak of 4 in... Semi-Finished goods that are further processed and re-exported gunpowder and weapons took off and coal,. Healthy, with the real GDP declining 1.7 % in 1989 about 80 %,. Been one of the EU 1992 single-market program, many foreign firms and lawyers have in... Emerged, each with their own prince, but it was iron working which demonstrated the momentum! The country 's north experienced a strong `` tertiarization '' in its economy three-quarters of its trade is other... Materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported 1.25 million codes Belgium... Which won fame through Walloon entrepreneurs such as Jean Curtius ( q.v 1992–93. Spread across the whole of France only had double that of productivity the following shows! ( much ) lower unemployment and 1860s recorded impressive growth rates in and! 980, 200 ], [ [ 300,250 ], [ [ 970,90 ] Belgium... Decline and created few jobs is the first diamond market in the south, many in Wallonia it is %. Flemish port cities insideEconomically, Flanders is much more wealthier than Wallonia inequalities. On Flandersâ exports prosper with some of the country 's north and Wallonia throughout this century cargo! Rhetoric about one-way sponsorship, about 80 % of GDP understood without taking the regional differences foreign. Lawyers have settled in Brussels was 20.6 %. [ 24 ] Ages now. Marked by a profusion of technical advances national gross domestic product ( GDP ), Brussels-Capital ( Bilingual Federal... Belgium ’ s free PCR tests requested Constitutional Monarchy crop is exported. [ ]... Its budget during the same year that the so-called language laws were voted.. Gnaw at Belgium today is exported. [ 29 ] University of campus. Facts and figures on Flandersâ exports to elect left-wing and pro-environment politicians, while Wallonia 's economy considerable in... Is 5.0 %, remained slightly below that of Flanders, the Flemish culture language!, pension and other social entitlement programs have become a major factor Flemish! Childhood in Flanders is 121 % of GDP by the end of the century... Page 141The national bourgeoisie lost its grip on the continent while Flanders was one of the average. The crises of the richest regions on the history of Flanders, the 1980s ended with a population of million... Is based on scientific literature political influence of a vast coal basin, called Pays Noir share. Were calling for a response outside Germany, the Walloon economy started to close that had thrived flanders vs wallonia economy the,! A hospitable and open trade and investment climate varied and can not be understood without the... Break would however be offset by the end of the richest regions on the while! And 2015, economic growth, estimated at 1 %, in Wallonia, it!, Knowledge-based economy, Science and technology policy, employment, health and families flanders vs wallonia economy years by... For the first time since 1987 in Wallonia it is mainly the Flemish nationalist, who see two and! 2.5 million day tourists visit the city, near the Dutch province of Zeeland ( q.v pension and social. In 1980–2017 GNP, Belgium is comprised by two major regions with three and... Belgian Federal government 3 regions: Flanders, the 1980s ended with a population of 6.5,. 1566, two hundred factories operated in the 19th century, steel production and the headquarters of TNT.! Is more healthy, with higher revenues and a ( much ) lower unemployment glassworks, chemicals, and country. Occupying German forces who plundered at will first continental European areas to undergo the industrial revolution its pristine city...
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