Outlook and Risks
8. Despite uncertainties in domestic and external environment, growth is expected to
average 2.9 percent in 2015. The uncertain external environment and the ongoing transition to the
new growth model could continue to weigh somewhat on private consumption and investment.
However, several factors should support a broad-based recovery in domestic demand. These include
the loosening of the monetary policy stance in January, a supportive fiscal policy stance, lower
energy prices, the temporary pause in the hike of foreign worker levies announced in the 2015
budget, and the projected gradual recovery in external demand.1 These factors are expected to
offset the drag from the continued softness in the housing market and an expected increase in
interest rates. Headline and core inflation are expected to average 0 and 1 percent in 2015,
respectively, before both rising to 1.8 percent in 2016 on recovering energy and commodity prices.
9. The medium-term outlook will be characterized by lower growth rates. Restrictive
policies on foreign workers and rapid population aging will lower the rate of labor force growth,
slowing economic growth to about 3 percent over the medium-term (Appendix V). The economic
restructuring is expected to ultimately raise capital-labor ratios and productivity growth but is