This paper focuses on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—National Strategy for Development and Integration (PRSP–NSDI) for Albania. The paper provides an overview of the key challenges facing the country. It presents a brief statement of the national vision, identifies the strategic...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that over the last decade, Albania’s macroeconomic performance has generally been strong and per capita GDP in U.S. dollar terms more than doubled. Strong fiscal policy, largely based on major improvements in tax administration, lowered public debt...

In this study, the following statistical data are presented in detail: GDP by sector of origin, construction of cost index, consumer price subsidies, agricultural production, production and yields of selected fruits, consumer price index, population, labor force, and employment, employment and...

The Kosovo crisis in March 1999 and the large influx of refugees placed a considerable strain on the country. Progress in structural reforms has been significant considering the Kosovo crisis. The process of privatizing about 520 small and medium-size enterprises was completed, contracts were...

The Selected Issues paper analyzes the determinants of growth in Albania, the macroeconomic underpinnings for growth, the role of remittances in the economy, and the policy response to rapid credit growth. It also analyzes the official estimates with estimates from various macroeconomic surveys,...

Albania’s Third Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility is analyzed. Albania has reached a pivotal stage in its economic development. Increasing foreign direct investment and rapid financial sector development point to a faster convergence toward...

Albania enjoyed strong growth with comparatively benign external vulnerabilities before the crisis. Monetary policy provided timely support, and the exchange rate functioned as a shock absorber. However, policy buffers are now exhausted and must be rebuilt. Fiscal tightening has to be quickly...

Inflation in Southeastern European (SEE) countries has been comparable with euro area inflation, partly owing to on the one hand, high initial price levels. On the other hand, the exchange rate regime is of paramount importance, including the inflation-targeting regime pursued in Albania. The...

The economy has thus far been fairly resilient to recent political uncertainties, although the reform process has been adversely affected. Continued growth will depend to a large extent on higher private investment, which will require further improvements in governance and the implementation of...

This paper focuses on Albania’s Fourth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), Request for a Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criterion, and Financing Assurances Review. Performance since the third review has been satisfactory...