The global financial crisis had a much more pronounced impact on South Africa relative to some other large emerging markets. The overriding economic policy challenge is to reduce unemployment and inequality through higher economic growth. Unemployment is a key policy focus; and a wage subsidy...

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that Belarus’s centralized economy grew rapidly over the past few years, enhancing social development. The state redistributed large and growing terms-of-trade gains stemming from favorable Russian energy pricing across the economy, boosting...

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that Indonesia’s economic performance has been strong since the last Article IV Consultation. Supported by sound policies and a favorable external environment, output has grown strongly, inflation has stabilized, and international reserves have...

Trinidad and Tobago showed strong economic performance led by the buoyant energy sector. Executive Directors welcomed the robust economic activity, and the decline in public debt and external reserves. Directors stressed the need for strong macroeconomic and structural policies to enable the...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that Malawi’s macroeconomic performance has improved significantly over the past two years, and the country’s agricultural-based economy has weathered the global economic storm relatively well. Good weather and the distribution of...

This paper examines Romania’s external stability risks. Recent Romanian data indicate high increases in real wages, not matched by comparable productivity gains. Both the government and the National Bank of Romania (NBR) have highlighted the importance of a responsible and stabilizing...

This paper examines the external sustainability and competitiveness of Benin’s economy. Balance of payments flows suggest Benin’s external position is sustainable. Large trade and current account deficits are comfortably financed by inflows through the capital and financial...

This paper estimated the output gap in Lithuania using three different methodologies—an HP filter, a panel regression, and a production function. This study examines how the levels of the current account deficit and the real exchange rate in Lithuania compare with estimates of their...

Indonesia’ 2008 Article IV Consultation reports that Indonesia’s growth performance remains strong despite the deteriorating global environment. The economy remains vulnerable to shifts in investor sentiment, and volatility in the government bond market has increased. The new...

This Selected Issues paper discusses Romania’s modeling monetary policy. A simple Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS) for Romania has been designed to help in the preparation of the IMF staff’s forecasts and policy assessments. A major advantage of this approach is that...