THEO JANSE VAN RENSBURG is a Senior Economist with the Development Prospects Group. As the main author of the global outlook (Chapter 1), he contributes to the department’s two annual flagship publications—Global Economic Prospects and Global Development Finance. Before joining the World Bank, Mr. Janse van Rensburg worked with the National Treasury of South Africa, where he was the Chief Director for Modelling and Forecasting. His principal responsibilities included the development of the macro economic forecasts and the macro economic framework on which the country’s Budget and Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) is based. He also played a lead role in developing macro econometric models at the National Treasury, including tax revenue forecasting models as well as models to assess the cyclicality of tax revenues. Mr Janse van Rensburg has also worked with countries in the Africa region and has lead various Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) workshops to assist member countries in developing modelling and forecasting capacity. Mr. Janse van Rensburg holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Higher Education Diploma from the University of the Free State in South Africa.