This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic growth in Greece has been strong for several years, underpinned by a large fall in interest rates owing to adoption of the euro and subsequent European Central Bank easing. In 2005, the authorities implemented substantial fiscal...

This report reviews the Observance of Standards and Codes on Fiscal Transparency for Belarus. Belarus meets the requirements of the fiscal transparency code in some important areas. There is a comprehensive legal and administrative framework for management of budget resources. The Budget systems...

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency in Germany. The assessment has two parts. The first is a description of practices, prepared by the IMF staff on the basis of discussions with the authorities, their comprehensive responses to the fiscal transparency questionnaire, and...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic activity in Austria gathered speed in 2004, supported mostly by strong export performance. Growth of real GDP rose to 2.2 percent in 2004. Consumption growth was modest, in view of small gains in employment and nominal wage growth barely...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation for Ireland reports that economic performance has been impressive, owing in significant measure to sound policies. In line with the global cycle, growth picked up strongly in 2004. Rapid employment growth has been supported by immigration, so the unemployment...

This report assesses the Observance of Standards and Codes on Fiscal Transparency for Bangladesh. Bangladesh has made significant progress in recent years toward addressing longstanding problems of fiscal reporting and meeting basic requirements of fiscal transparency. Measures are in hand to...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that a cyclical recovery is under way for Italy, with real GDP having risen by 1.2 percent in the first three quarters of 2004 relative to the same period of the previous year, thanks to the favorable external environment and a recovery of investment....

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency practices in Guatemala in light of the requirements of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency. The assessment reveals that Guatemala has progressed in certain important aspects of fiscal transparency. A variety of measures...

This Selected Issues paper assesses the long-term fiscal position of Canada. Simulations based on current tax and spending policies suggest that the fiscal position will remain favorable until well into the middle of the century, and relatively modest adjustments would be required to make these...

Long-term issues continue to dominate the economic policy agenda. The economy is expected to grow at a moderate pace. The challenge from aging is becoming more pressing, calling for sustained fiscal consolidation. The elaboration of a medium-term fiscal framework based on expenditure growth...