This paper investigates the mechanisms through which environmental taxes on fossil fuel usage can affect the main macroeconomic variables in the short-run. We concentrate on a particular mechanism: speculative storage. The existence of forward-looking speculators in the model improves the...

This paper presents findings of the First Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for the Republic of Kosovo. The paper highlights that macroeconomic and financial policies are broadly on-track. All end-April and continuous quantitative performance criteria under the SBA were met with...

The staff report for Ireland’s fifth review under the Extended Arrangement states that financial sector reforms continued to advance, with the two structural benchmarks for end-2011 observed. In particular, targets for bank deleveraging in 2011 were met, with almost €15 billion of...

This report reviews economic development of Namibia in the recent years after the global crisis. The country bounced back very well after the crisis. Namibia exhibited strong performance in the primary sectors, which has led to remarkable growth in the second half of 2012. The government has...

France’s near–term economic outlook is moderately positive, but clouded by risks from the global environment. The government’s reformist intentions provide an historic opportunity to place France onto a sustained higher growth path with greater opportunities for all....

This study focused on environmental tax measures, and on allocation, pricing, and taxation of Iceland’s major hydropower and geothermal resources. Measures to secure the tax base for the corporate income tax (CIT) are proposed. Taxation of the financial sector can be improved by a number...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that the credit-fueled boom has resulted in a relatively large nonfinancial private sector debt stock in Estonia. With declining incomes, unemployment increasing sharply, and asset prices depressed, balance sheets of households and firms are under...

This staff report discusses the Republic of Kosovo’s request for a Stand-By Arrangement. Kosovo is in the final stages of transition to full self-governance in economic and financial affairs. Kosovo’s economy has remained largely shielded from turbulence in the euro area, owing to...

This paper presents the first assessment report under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Kosovo. The policies under Kosovo’s SMP target decisive steps toward fiscal sustainability and stronger budget management and execution. Performance under the SMP has been largely satisfactory to...

This 2011 Article IV Consultation reports that the vulnerability of Belgium’s sovereign debt to market pressures makes credible medium-term fiscal consolidation a priority. The 2012 budget includes sizable consolidation measures, and the government is committed to take additional measures...