The study reveals agricultural import restrictions are widely applied in Asia, but that Japan and Korea impose lower average tariffs and nontariff barriers with less frequency than most Asian countries. It also finds several low and middle-income countries enforce relatively low protection for...

Fiscal profligacy, an erosion of competitiveness, and governance problems have undermined investor confidence and curtailed access to foreign financing in Zimbabwe. The new economic team has taken steps in devaluing the currency and raising the awareness of public opinion about the size of the...

This paper presents the midyear review of the 2004 Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Sudan. Policy performance in the first half of 2004 was broadly in line with the program. All quantitative benchmarks and most structural benchmarks were met. Real GDP growth has been stronger than anticipated...

South Africa’s 2005 Article IV Consultation reports that the short-term outlook is broadly favorable, with the main risks arising from a possible worsening of the external environment. The authorities plan to maintain a flexible exchange rate, and to intervene in the foreign exchange...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the main factors underlying the evolution of competitiveness, export performance, and labor market developments in Poland. The paper seeks to identify key questions of relevance for policymaking. The overall evolution of competitiveness compared with...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Libyan economy remains largely state controlled and heavily dependent on the oil sector. Since the lifting of the Libya-specific trade sanctions of the United Nation and United States in September 2003 and September 2004, respectively, the...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation for Samoa reports that the combination of sound economic management and structural reform had led to robust growth, low inflation, sound public finances, and a comfortable external position. With continued commitment to sound macroeconomic and reform policies,...

This Selected Issues paper for Australia highlights the dynamics of the Australian real exchange rate and its impact on Australia’s trade. The main findings are that the Australian real exchange rate is largely driven by world commodity prices and that it adjusts relatively rapidly to...

This Selected Issues paper on Belize reviews the external competitiveness, balance sheet currency mismatch, and public sector debt. Belize is a small, open economy and highly dependent on external trade. Real wages in the private sector have increased only slightly. Belize’s exports of...