This Selected Issues paper reviews developments in health care spending in France and discusses the recent measures to improve the functioning of the system and contain costs. It argues that by addressing many of the issues that had bedeviled past reforms, the new measures offer a reasonable...

This paper describes economic developments in the People’s Republic of China during 1996–97. In 1996, the authorities succeeded in stabilizing growth at a high level while alleviating the inflation pressures that had characterized the 1993–94 boom. From an average rate of more than 13...

This Selected Issues paper reviews the key institutions and arrangements for economic policymaking that were expected to be put in place following the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China in 1997. International treaties between Britain and China from the nineteenth century are...

This paper reviews macroeconomic developments in China in 1994 and 1995, in particular the progress achieved during these years in “cooling” the economy following the intense overheating that originated in an investment boom in 1992. During 1994, efforts were intensified to achieve...

This paper examines Burkina Faso’s Fourth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and the Third Annual Program. The program remains broadly on track. The economic downturn of 2000 trailed into the first half of 2001. All of the end-June and end-September 2001 quantitative...

This 1999 Article IV Consultation highlights that despite a contraction of agricultural production, Tunisia’s GDP grew by 5 percent in 1998. Gross fixed capital formation (27.5 percent of GDP), notably in Tunisia’s traditional and new export sectors, was the most dynamic component of...

The staff report for the 2011 Article IV Consultation concluded that a vibrant recovery marked Estonia’s first year in the euro area, albeit amid nascent tensions. The economy’s strong rebound has been grounded in a proven track record of prudent macroeconomic policies. Executive Directors...

This paper reviews economic and policy developments in Japan during the 1990s. It suggests that, while growth is likely to be adversely affected in the near term owing to the fiscal consolidation measures adopted as part of the FY1997 budget, the prospects are favorable for continued economic...

Afghanistan has made important achievements in recent years. The 2011 Article IV Consultation highlights that authorities have taken steps to lay the foundation for economic stability and growth, despite a very difficult security situation and the challenges associated with building political...

This Selected Issues paper on Indonesia explains through econometric analysis the contribution of different factors to export growth and assesses the prospects for its maintenance in the future. The paper reviews developments in Indonesian export growth since 1970. It develops a model of export...