This review marks the 10th anniversary of the safeguards policy. Introduced in March 2000, the policy's main objective is to mitigate potential risks of misuse of resources, including Fund resources, and misreporting of monetary program data. The policy was last reviewed in 2005, when the...

Reducing the budget deficit is not easy. Keynesian theory suggests thatlowering government expenditures and raising revenues can lead to afalloff in economic activity. This paper argues the neoclassical approach - that a firm and credible reduction in expenditures, by engendering confidence that...

Many countries have initiated reforms in their monetary control procedures by relaxing direct controls and increasing the role of market processes. The changed approach is often inevitable when countries reform their financial systems in support of growth and adjustment. This is because reform...

Full implementation of an intergovernmental transfer system based on revenue capacities and expenditure needs could significantly improve both redistribution and equity objectives of the Chinese authorities. This was envisaged in the 1994 fiscal reforms, but the authorities were unable to...

Togo has made significant progress in advancing economic and political reforms under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP). Important fiscal governance reforms have boosted tax revenues and helped expenditure control. The I-PRSP is designed to preserve macroeconomic stability while reviving economic...

This 2011 Article IV Consultation reviews Côte d’Ivoire’s economic condition. Côte d’Ivoire is emerging from a decade-long sociopolitical crisis that has held back its economic growth. In 2009, Côte d’Ivoire adopted an economic and financial program supported by a three-year Extended...

The report assesses the Ex Post Assessment of Longer-Term Program Engagement. It reviews the success of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program in achieving rapid growth, low inflation, and a comfortable external position. It highlights that the design of the programs has been...

This paper discusses Burkina Faso’s ex-post assessment of longer-term program engagement. Economic growth has fluctuated above regional standards, averaging 5.3 percent between 2007 and 2012. The improvements in the agricultural sector, as a result of authorities’ strong push for...

Hungary’s 2007 Article IV Consultation reports that with fiscal consolidation on track for 2007 and 2008, short-term risks have receded, especially owing to the favorable international financial environment. Ensuring that the current economic slowdown does not translate into a prolonged...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic activity in Grenada is slowing significantly, reflecting the drag of the global crisis on tourism receipts, foreign direct investment, and remittances. Commercial banks have remained resilient, but the intervention of the Trinidad and...