The Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) Data Module provides an assessment of Bolivia’s macroeconomic statistics against the recommendations of the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS). The report reveals that the quality of Bolivia’s macroeconomic statistics...

This paper investigates economic, political, and institutional constraints to fiscal policy implementation in sub-saharan Africa. We find that planned fiscal adjustments or expansions are less likely to be implemented the larger they are, the more inaccurate the growth forecasts they are based...

This Selected Issues paper for the Solomon Islands reviews budget trends in the past decade and assesses medium-term budget prospects. Aid flows and revenue from import tariffs and logging are projected to decline. Spending pressures are likely to pick up considerably, owing to the need to...

The key issue facing Congo is how to use oil and mineral resources effectively in support of inclusive growth. Economic conditions are supportive--macroeconomic stability is in place, the terms of trade are favorable, and the external position is strong. External risks are mitigated by...

This study is carried out against a backdrop of deep divisions in Greece and in Europe over how to handle the challenges now confronting Greece. Greece’s deeper medium-term policy needs and identifying ways to replace the expected market financing are discussed. Structural reforms tackled...

This paper evaluates Mali’s Fifth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. The implementation of the program was satisfactory in the first nine months of 2002. All the quantitative performance criteria, benchmarks, and financial performance indicators were observed. The...

This paper presents Nigeria’s Request for a Two-Year Policy Support Instrument to support its reform efforts. All three tiers of government have adhered to a conservative oil price-based fiscal rule, resulting in large overall budget surpluses and a significant buildup of international...

This paper continues the study of optimal fiscal policy in a growing economy by exploring a case in which the government simultaneously provides three main categories of expenditures with distortionary tax finance: public production services, public consumption services, and state-contingent...

Social protection in industrial countries has been provided through regulations, tax expenditures, and public spending. This paper argues that globalization will affect governments’ ability to continue providing this social protection at the level of recent decades. Specifically, tax...