This paper describes the Kingdom of Lesotho’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2012/13–2016/17. NSDP recognizes, as a point of departure, the need and urgency for Lesotho to radically transform its economy. To achieve the National Vision goals...

This paper discusses the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—National Development Plan for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The plan has been a participative process, involving constituents in every sector of the economy to identify the problems they face and to suggest solutions to those...

By definition, fiscal dominance impedes the effective implementation of any monetary strategy aimed at controlling inflation. Economies that exhibit oil dominance-a situation in which oil exports largely affect the main macroeconomic indicators-may also exhibit fiscal dominance. However, in this...

This paper reviews economic developments in Venezuela during 1995–97. The overall public sector balance shifted from a deficit of 7 percent of GDP in 1995 to a surplus of 71⁄4 percent of GDP in 1996. This massive swing was owing to a major increase in the underlying oil surplus, a decline in...

This paper describes economic developments in Venezuela during the 1990s. Economic conditions remained difficult in 1995. Continued problems in the banking system, higher public sector interest obligations, a decline in oil revenues, and deterioration in the non-oil fiscal balance kept the...

A short-run macroeconomic model is estimated for Venezuela, in order to examine the hypothesis that the availability of oil resources may entail a confidence effect—on perceived future incomes—that influences the expenditure and portfolio behavior of economic agents. Such confidence effect...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country

The overarching objective of Bhutan’s Tenth Five-Year Plan (10FYP)—which is also the Royal Government of Bhutan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)—is to sustain this trajectory and reduce poverty further. Political stability, prudent economic management, and...

This Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for Nicaragua reports that the most pressing demand for the majority of Nicaraguans is employment generation and economic growth. The National Development Plan (NDP) gives priority to actions that improve the investment climate and promote productive...

Nicaragua’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper discusses several strategic policies for boosting medium-term economic growth. The role of the private sector as the main engine of growth through the stimulation of investment and exports is underscored. It also emphasizes the objective of...