The Netherlands: Standard and Poor’s raises credit rating

S&P, which lowered the Netherland’s rating in November 2013, gave the country a stable outlook

THE HAGUE: Standard and Poor’s raised the Netherlands back to its top AAA credit rating, saying the eurozone nation’s economic recovery has gained traction. “The upgrade reflects our view of the strengthening of the economic recovery in the Netherlands, with domestic demand growing strongly as a result of increases in real disposable income, employment, and investment activity,” said the rating agency. S&P, which lowered the Netherland’s rating in November 2013, gave the country a stable outlook and said the future growth prospects were stronger than they had previously expected. It cited the nation’s long track record of prudent and flexible macroeconomic policies reflected in, among other things, its improving budgetary position, as its reasons for raising the rating. After the Dutch economy expanded just 1% last year, the ratings agency said it expects growth will increase to almost 2% annually through 2018.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2015.

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