This paper focuses on 2004 Post Program Monitoring Discussions for the Philippines. The authorities are formulating a significant package of tax measures. IMF staff argued that the bulk of the additional revenues should be saved, thereby front-loading the medium-term deficit reduction effort....

This paper discusses key findings of the Fourth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for Bangladesh. Several quantitative and structural performance criteria have been missed for the fourth PRGF review. The nonobservance of these performance criteria largely reflects...

The staff report for the Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility highlights economic developments and fiscal policy. The political transition process has advanced significantly in 2005, and further progress has been made in securing peace....

Macroeconomic performance continues to be strong, with double-digit real gross domestic product growth and low inflation. All quantitative and structural performance criteria have been met. Significant progress has been made in converting quasi-fiscal subsidies to fiscal subsidies. The...

Paraguay’s Fifth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria are discussed. The overall fiscal position remains in surplus, the exchange rate weakened slightly with respect to the U.S. dollar, but considerably with respect to the Brazilian real,...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that six years after the 1998 financial crisis, Ukraine continues to recover strongly. In 2003, real GDP grew by 9.4 percent, despite a poor harvest, and reached 13.5 percent through July 2004. Growth in 2003–04 has been prompted by favorable...

This paper examines Madagascar’s Sixth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Madagascar’s performance under the program in 2004 has been broadly satisfactory, particularly in light of the difficult economic environment that...

This paper assesses Serbia and Montenegro’s First Review Under the Extended Arrangement (EA). Serbia and Montenegro’s economic and policy performance has remained good under the current EA, but daunting challenges lie ahead. Macroeconomic policies need to be carefully calibrated to...

Until recently, Croatia's economic performance was the envy of many countries in transition: a successful stabilization effort in late 1993 was followed by virtual price stability and real GDP growth of 6 percent a year during 1994–97. Monetary tightening, the weak economy, and a...

Recent economic developments have been adversely affected by the severe drought. The mission and the authorities updated the macroeconomic framework for 2003/04 and the medium-term in light of recent developments and the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) price projections. The fiscal strategy...