Younger population in Brussels
“If we express the flows in per capita terms, the net outward flow from Brussels is even more striking and even larger than the Flemish flow,” the researchers write.
The Brussels contribution in 2023 will amount to exactly 2,100 euros per Brussels resident, compared to ‘only’ 1,259 euros per Flemish person.
“The reason for this lies mainly with the relatively younger population of the Brussels Region and the lower expenditure on pensions and healthcare expenditure that results, together with the higher income from corporate taxes.”
Remarkable: while the Flemish contribution per capita is expected to remain constant in the coming years, the Brussels contribution is projected to rise to 3,316 euros per inhabitant in 2028.
Once again, demography is the explanation. Flanders will be aging considerably in the coming years and will therefore receive more for pensions and healthcare.
In total, the Brussels transfer to Wallonia would amount to 4.1 billion euros in 2028 and the Flemish 8.8 billion euros. This would mean that Wallonia will receive a total of 12.9 billion euros in that year.
