This Selected Issues paper analyzes the income dispersion and comovement in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union region. It finds that incomes are diverging, with the Leeward Islands converging to a higher income level than the Windward Islands. The paper examines the macroeconomic impact of...

This note is on Korea’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, the prospects and challenges ahead, and the development of its financial sector. Assessment of recent government initiatives to develop capital markets has been presented. The note discusses restrictions on Chaebol ownership...

This paper discusses Bulgaria’s prospects for converging to the living standards of the more advanced members of the European Union (EU). The unfavorable economic environment of the early 1990s and the economic crisis in 1996–97 hurt Bulgaria’s output, employment, and...

Prudent macroeconomic management, strong growth, low inflation, small fiscal deficit, and public debt have helped The Bahamas attain the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. Executive Directors supported the government’s goals of balancing the budget and reducing debt. They...

This report reviews the Priority Action Program (PAP) for Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) implementation in Burkina Faso. The PAP makes the PRSP operational and increases the visibility of public policies in the area of poverty reduction. The 2005–07 PAP is expected to help remove...

This Joint Staff Advisory Note reviews the National Development Plan (NDP) 2010/11 to 2014/15 prepared by the government of Uganda. The NDP is the first in a series of six plans intended to move the country toward the national vision of a transformed modern economy in the next 30 years. The NDP...

São Tomé and Principe’s economy is heavily dependent on the international economy. The study assessed the country's macroeconomic, structural, and social policies in support of growth and poverty reduction. The implementation of the National poverty reduction strategy (NPRS) through People's...

This 2013 Article IV Consultation highlights that Togo has made significant progress in macroeconomic stability, but challenges remain in accelerating economic reforms and reducing poverty. Real economic growth accelerated from almost 4½ in 2010–2011 to 5¾ in 2012–2013,...

This Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) was developed based on a long participatory process based on an institutional mechanism involving all socioeconomic development actors in the country. The annual review of the PRSP seeks to assess the results achieved in the implementation of the...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that South Africa’s economic performance has strengthened in the last several years, with real GDP growing by 5–5½ percent in 2005–07, inflation declining to mid-single digits until recently, and employment growing steadily....