This Selected Issues paper assesses risks in the Panamanian banking sector. The analysis suggests that Panama's banking system seems able to withstand reasonably severe shocks, while contagion risks stem primarily from foreign banks. Ample starting capital buffers and bank profitability prevent...

This paper discusses Mexico's Review Under the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) Arrangement. Mexico has navigated successfully a complex external environment, characterized by falling commodity prices, a sharp appreciation of the U.S. dollar, and heightened volatility in international financial...

This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that Bolivia has achieved strong economic performance and poverty reduction over the past decade. Real GDP growth has averaged about 5 percent since 2006, and the poverty ratio has declined by 16 percentage points. Real GDP growth is projected to stay...

This paper focuses on Sri Lanka's Third Post-Program Monitoring Discussion. Sri Lanka's recent macroeconomic performance has generally been strong but risks appear to be on the rise. Real GDP growth registered 7.4 percent in 2014. Growth was broad-based, with the exception of agriculture, which...

This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that the growth of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is expected at 2.25 percent in 2015, with domestic demand acting as the principal source of momentum. Growth is likely to pick up modestly to 2.5 percent in 2016, with a smaller drag from...

Uruguay has achieved more than a decade of high and inclusive economic growth, supported by social stability and reduced regional linkages. The country has weathered the recent global and regional headwinds relatively well so far. Yet the economy is slowing down, while inflation remains above...

This paper examines the dimensions in which Uruguay's financial development is lagging, and the benefits that might accrue if obstacles to development in these areas were removed. The analysis focuses on the frictions affecting firms' access to credit, corporate credit deepening, and the...