This is the latest in a series of economic reports by staff economists in the IMF’s Middle Eastern Department. This book discusses the latest economic data coming out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with a particular emphasis on growing demographic concerns. The work is enhanced by the...

This paper assesses macroeconomic developments and progress in institution building during 1994-1998. The five year interim period envisaged in the peace accords has ended, and the paper takes stock of what happened in this period. The paper was prepared in the Spring of 1999 and draws on work...

This paper reviews institutional arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS), the structural features of the economy, and macroeconomic developments and prospects during the 1990s. The paper discusses the technical assistance that the IMF staff has been providing in response to requests...

This paper discusses commodity prices might serve as a useful leading indicator of inflation, based on the relative importance of flexible auction markets for the determination of these prices. They thus may have a tendency to respond relatively quickly, especially in response to monetary...

This paper describes the functioning of labor markets and to eliminate other structural obstacles to noninflationary growth. The decline in the price level in the home country will involve a rise in the real money supply and, if output is sluggish, this will result in an excess supply of money....

In this study, the following statistical data are presented in detail: GDP at constant factor cost, saving and investment, selected agricultural production, selected industrial production, consumer price indices, summary accounts of the consolidated public sector, central government expenditure,...

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...

This report provides the details of the IMF's projections and estimates on the Republic of Poland's sectoral breakdown of investment; value added by sector; growth and structure of agricultural production, during 1992–98; wages and salaries; private sector employment by sector, during 1993–98;...