This paper examines the possibility of ascertaining the welfare changes that occur when a consumption tax replaces an equal-yield income tax. It finds that those with saving/income ratios greater than the social saving/income ratio under the income tax will surely benefit and those with ratios...

The 2011 Article IV Consultation report concludes that Belize has weathered the financial crisis relatively well when compared with Caribbean Community peers. Executive Directors have commended the authorities for their macroeconomic management, which enabled Belize to weather the financial...

This paper reviews economic developments in the United Kingdom during 1991–96. The paper examines two sets of possible reasons why the United Kingdom's savings and investment rates are lower than elsewhere. The first consists of factors leading to lower optimal rates of savings and investment:...

This paper reviews economic developments in the United Kingdom during 1991–95. Following a brisk expansion in 1994, when the economy achieved a rare combination of above-trend output growth and historically low inflation, the pace of economic activity in the United Kingdom has moderated in the...

This paper reviews the first five years’ experience with inflation targeting in the United Kingdom. It concludes that inflation performance was not significantly different under inflation targeting than predicted by a VAR model estimated in the period prior to participation in the exchange...

This Selected Issues paper examines the operational independence and the conduct of monetary policy in the United Kingdom. The paper describes the inflation targeting framework and the analytics of the decision-making process. It suggests that inflation targeting, although not entirely new 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 Selected Issues paper examines national accounts revisions and the economic cycle for the United Kingdom. The paper concludes that upward revisions to GDP data are positively correlated with economic activity, in particular, with growth in its domestic component. The paper suggests that...

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 Background Paper describes economic and financial developments in Aruba during 1997–98. The paper highlights that in the mid-1990s, the boom in the hotel sector came to an end, and the economy started to grow at a more sustainable pace. The paper reviews real economic activity,...