This paper describes determinants of Japan’s productivity growth, reform outputs, and speculation on future potential growth. It investigates the macroeconomic implications of alternative fiscal strategies; examines the issues surrounding the Bank of Japan’s understanding of price...

Several models establish a positive association between public debt ratios and long-term real yields, but the empirical evidence is not always conclusive. We reconsider this issue, focusing in particular on possible spillover effects of large advanced economies' debt levels to other economies'...

The Slovak Republic’s 2005 Article IV Consultation reports that sound macroeconomic management and a wide range of fundamental structural reforms are supporting nominal convergence with European Union norms. Real GDP growth accelerated to 6 percent in 2005, driven by an improvement in the...

The discussions centered on the needed steps to tighten monetary conditions, curb banks’ external borrowing, and reduce banks’ vulnerability to a sharp deterioration in the quality of loan portfolios. Strong expansion in oil and non-oil receipts in 2005 permitted continued rapid...

This Selected Issues paper on Kenya reviews Kenya’s external stability in a context where the exchange rate has strengthened and capital inflows are playing an increasingly important role. Kenya’s external current account deficit has widened, reflecting strong import volumes as...

This paper discusses key findings of the Third Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for Haiti. Despite external shocks, program performance was solid in the first half of FY2008, with all but one quantitative performance criteria (PC) met. Most structural conditionality...

The global financial crisis had a much more pronounced impact on South Africa relative to some other large emerging markets. The overriding economic policy challenge is to reduce unemployment and inequality through higher economic growth. Unemployment is a key policy focus; and a wage subsidy...

Belarus’ economic growth has been impressive in the last few years. Belarus’ economic program is designed to facilitate adjustment to external shocks and reduce vulnerabilities. It includes a number of structural reforms on issues that are critical to the mitigation of...

This paper discusses an arrangement under the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) for Colombia. Colombia is well placed to confront challenges posed by the ongoing global downturn. Access under an FCL arrangement of SDR 6.966 billion, which the authorities intend to treat as precautionary, would support...

Uruguay has consolidated economic gains, supported by strong macroeconomic policies and a broadly favorable external environment. Growth has exceeded expectations, unemployment has reached record lows, and poverty has continued to fall, while economic vulnerabilities have been significantly...