There are few areas of economic policy-making in which the returns to good decisions are so high-and the punishment of bad decisions so cruel-as in the management of natural resource wealth. Rich endowments of oil, gas and minerals have set some countries on courses of sustained and robust...

Although Turkey’s economic performance has been strong, growing external imbalances exposed the country to a reversal of sentiment. In the wake of recent market turbulence, the authorities have recommitted to strong policies and stepped up program implementation. The authorities’ commitment...

This paper examines Turkey’s Seventh Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement, and Requests for Waiver of Applicability and Nonobservance of Performance Criteria. Successful macroeconomic management delivered an impressive economic performance in 2003. However, budget slippages interrupted this...

This paper assesses Turkey’s Tenth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The IMF supports Turkey’s economic program under an SBA covering 2000–02. The arrangement was augmented with resources under the Supplemental Reserve Facility in December 2000, and under the credit tranches in...

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

This paper examines Turkey’s 2002 Article IV Consultation and First Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). In response to September 11, the Turkish government initiated a new intensified IMF-supported program, both to protect the economy against future crises, and to continue Turkey’s...

This paper examines Turkey’s Request for a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The program contains several measures to free up the growth potential of Turkey’s private sector. The program rightly addresses key obstacles to domestic and foreign private investment. Although the program faces real...

Prudent macroeconomic policies helped Turkey to achieve economic growth under the Stand-By Arrangement. Executive Directors welcomed this development and stressed the need to widen the account deficit. They emphasized the need of a strong budget, powerful monetary and fiscal policies, and...