This paper assesses Rwanda’s First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria. Performance under the PRGF-supported program has been encouraging. However, poverty is pervasive, and the...

This paper examines Peru’s 2004 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement, and Request for Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criterion. In 2003, Peru’s real GDP grew by 4 percent, with inflation of 2.5 percent and a further strengthening of the...

The staff report for the 2005 Article IV Consultation on the Philippines highlights managing short-term vulnerabilities and higher investment and growth. Power generation tariffs have been raised to substantially cut the losses of the National Power Corporation (NPC). A risk to the near-term...

Bosnia and Herzegovina has come a long way, but has to achieve more in terms of economic transition. The core and most urgent economic task is corporate restructuring. Labor market institutions need to be transformed alongside. The fiscal and structural reform agenda will require strengthened...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that since the last Article IV consultation discussions, economic activity in Latvia has maintained its momentum. GDP grew 7½ percent in 2003 and 8¾ percent year over year in the first quarter of 2004; however, inflation climbed to 6.1 percent at...

The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) program has been brought back on track, after some difficulties, in early 2003 (which led to a delay in completing the first review). Although a start has been made in strengthening the banking sector, significant further work is needed. The central...

This Selected Issues paper examines recent economic developments in Sierra Leone. The paper highlights that the economic recovery in Sierra Leone has benefited especially from the extensive rehabilitation and humanitarian activities in liberated areas. Real GDP growth rose by 4 percent in 2000...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that from 1999 to 2002, Korea’s economy grew rapidly, by an average of 7¼ percent per year. But starting in 2003, the economy has begun to sputter. Growth suddenly stopped in the first half of the year, leapt ahead in the second half as...

We estimate ex post returns to emerging market debt by combining secondary-market prices with observed flows based on World Bank data. From 1970-2000, returns averaged 9 percent per annum, about the same as returns on a ten-year U.S. treasury bond. This reflects the combined effect of the 1980s...