The world economy began to slow in 2007, after peaking at nearly 4% growth in real gross world product in 2006. Slowing has been centered in the developed world, particularly in North America, where contraction in U.S. residential investment and fallout from the sub-prime mortgage collapse is taking a substantial toll. So far this weakness has not spread significantly to other countries. Prospects are for further global slowing in 2008. Now the question is how soft or hard the landing will be. While no sharp downswing is yet in evidence, the configuration of risks appears heavily weighted toward the negative.
