This Background Paper and Statistical Appendix reviews the real economy and systemic reforms in the Republic of Kazakhstan during 1993–94. In early 1994, the Kazakh authorities launched a major stabilization program to improve the financial situation and reinforce the structural reforms. A...

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 Selected Issues paper examines the reform of state-owned banks and enterprises in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). It highlights that recurring high levels of nonperforming loans of state-owned commercial banks have been caused by internal factors, including continued weak...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) review the macroeconomic impact of the resource sector. Lao PDR’s economic performance is becoming increasingly dependent on the activities of the large mining and hydropower projects. The...

This Selected Issues paper examines the main causes for the surge in dollarization in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). It explores various strategies that may be adopted to maintain low inflation and thus, indirectly, encourage the use of the national currency. The paper...

Progress in fiscal reforms, especially with regard to revenue mobilization, will require a broader reform of center-province fiscal relations in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. There are challenges ahead to restructure the state-owned commercial banks (SCB) and strengthen the banking system....