The latter include upward-trending interest rates in the US, a surge in trade-related tensions, geopolitical developments, a deceleration of the Chinese economy, the decline in key stock markets, heightened political and policy uncertainty in a number of EMEs, as well as sharp declines in oil prices to levels not seen in about a year, among others.
This is a remarkable achievement, but it is important that we continue along this path to bring the ratio down to 60 percent of GDP – the ceiling set by the Maastricht treaty – and after that, to bring the ratio down even further. •  Poverty, a major topic of public debate in Israel.