Global Outlook for 2018: Economy, Finance, and Monetary, with a Particular Case Study of Taiwan

In October 2017, IMF President Christine Lagarde declared that the GDP growth of world¡¯s economies in the first half of 2017 was up to the broadest recovery since 2010. So far, the strength of global economic growth has been enhancing. The interest rates and inflation are still at a low level. The global economy has risen from the bottom in 2016 to reach its peak since 2011. As for the degree of economic development, the emerging markets grew fastest, followed by the developing countries, while the advanced economies grew moderately at an average rate around 2%. Manufacturing PMI in major countries, such as the United States, China, the Eurozone, and even Taiwan, have increased above 50 notably in the recent years, while the non-manufacturing PMI is also above 50. Accordingly, the main purpose of this paper is to forecast the global economy in 2018, which is on the trajectory of booming with a certain degree of uncertainty. A particular case study of Taiwan¡¯s overall economic development is presented as well.