In this study, economic developments and achievements, the role of the IMF, strong economic recovery, the formulation and implementation of the government’s budgetary policy, and the progress made in rebuilding fiscal institutions are first discussed in detail. An overview of the challenges...

This report provides an update of the assessment of Lao P.D.R.'s macroeconomic conditions and outlook presented at the time of the 2004 Article IV Consultation and in the Assessment Letter of March 10, 2005

Macroeconomic performance of Seychelles under the Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) has been favorable and the reforms continue to be pursued with a high degree of ownership and broad public support. The liberalization of the exchange regime, a strong fiscal adjustment, and prudent monetary policies...

The global crisis has hit the Maldivian economy hard; combined with an unsustainable fiscal expansion, it has led to a large fiscal deficit and severe balance of payments pressures. The authorities are committed to a strong policy adjustment program, and have requested IMF financial support for...

Mauritius has a long and sustained track record of implementing strong policies, and the authorities have responded appropriately to the global financial crisis by easing macroeconomic policies. While the crisis response has halted the decline in public debt, the public finances are...

Assessment Letters or Statements may be prepared for member countries with Fund-supported programs; receiving Fund emergency assistance; with staff-monitored programs; or surveillance-only cases. They are typically produced for use by the country with multilateral or bilateral donors or creditors,...

The new three-year ECF arrangement was approved by the Board on March 16, 2012. The economic outlook for 2012 and 2013 is broadly positive, thanks to the coming onstream of oil production and continuing investment in the natural resource sector. Downside risks to the outlook include the fragile...

This report focuses on IMF Technical Assistance Evaluation—Public Expenditure Management (PEM) Reform in Selected African Countries. Most of the countries examined were colonies of the United Kingdom, inheriting similar and relatively simple budget systems based on an interpretation of the...

This paper analyses the economic costs of current agricultural policies in Turkmenistan. It argues that the opportunity cost of continuing with these policies is very high for the budget, the average farmer, and the economy as a whole. The paper calls for the development of nontraditional...