The financial system in Argentina experienced substantial changes. Capital adequacy and liquidity indicators are strong in the Argentine banking industry, whereas profitability indicators are weak. The current system of mandatory health care for salaried employees is built around institutions...

The current high Southern African Customs Unions revenues should be used to implement fiscal measures to secure fiscal sustainability and support economic growth. The government should formulate a financial sector strategy that addresses Swaziland’s twin challenges of enhancing financial...

The recent rise in inflation in Timor–Leste has raised concerns about international competitiveness and the cost of living. After remaining relatively subdued for several years, inflation in Timor–Leste rose decisively over the past two years. Higher food prices account for most of the...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix examines the relationship between investment and long-term growth in Fiji. It reviews Fijian data, and indicates that the slowdown in the growth rate since independence has been associated with a decline in investment, particularly by the...

This Article IV Consultation reports that the main challenge is to maintain macroeconomic stability in substantial demand shock from the construction of two major liquefied natural gas projects. The global downturn had only a mild impact, as growth was supported by still strong terms of trade, a...

This Selected Issues paper estimates the path of the equilibrium real exchange for Malawi. Based on a dynamic model of a small open economy, the paper identifies and discusses the dynamics between certain fundamental variables and the real exchange rate. It also investigates the presence of a...

Progress in fiscal reforms, especially with regard to revenue mobilization, will require a broader reform of center-province fiscal relations in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. There are challenges ahead to restructure the state-owned commercial banks (SCB) and strengthen the banking system....

The report reviews the basic data, and selected social and demographic indicators of Mali. It also analyzes the revised methodology for national accounts. It provides the details of the IMF’s projections and estimates of Mali’s gross domestic product at constant 1987 prices, in previous and...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix examines factors that have determined long-term growth in Nicaragua. Stylized facts suggest that government policies have had a decisive influence on growth. In particular, productivity and capital accumulation suffered during periods of...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix analyzes growth and recovery in Mongolia during transition. The paper describes the major sources of economic growth in Mongolia since the early 1980s in the context of a basic growth accounting framework. It discusses Mongolia’s...