The economy will grow 2% in 2011, taking the budget deficit to 4.7%, the government’s macro economic think tank CPB said on Tuesday, stressing the figures are preliminary.

Employment will remain stable on 6.5%, the same as it is forecast to reach this year. The budget deficit for 2010 will be slightly higher at 6.1%, the CPB said.
‘An increase in economic growth from 1.5% in 2010 to 2% in 2011 is hopeful and offers perspective,’ economic affairs minister Maria van der Hoeven told the Volkskrant. ‘But it conceals the fact that this growth will probably not be coupled with more jobs and solid government financing.’
The CPB will publish its more concrete forecast on March 16, using the latest information and policy developments.