In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country

KEY ISSUES Context. Growth remains strong driven by robust exports, tourism, and construction, despite the recent floods and some slowdown during the 2013 national election. The outlook is favorable with renewed reform momentum after the elections but slow growth in Europe, the U.S. tapering,...

KEY ISSUES Context: Solomon Islands has achieved considerable gains in development and macroeconomic stability in recent years. However, the country is at an important juncture—with both security and development assistance being scaled down by donors, it needs to become more self-reliant. In...

KEY ISSUES Economic context. Growth was strong in 2012, and the economy is overheating from expansionary macroeconomic policies. The current account deficit has deteriorated significantly, a product of a currency appreciation in real effective terms, a growing fiscal deficit, and strong domestic...

KEY ISSUES Context: Growth in recent decades has been sluggish owing to persistent political turmoil, external shocks, and slow progress on structural reforms. Unemployment at nearly 9 percent continues to be stubbornly high, with youth and underemployment at significantly higher rates. The...

KEY ISSUES Context: A slowdown in growth in major emerging market economies (EMEs) and decline in commodity prices, and more recently, a reversal in push factors tied to a prospective exit from extraordinarily easy global monetary conditions, has put pressure on Indonesia’s balance of payments...

KEY ISSUES Context. After a decade of strong growth, Papua New Guinea (PNG) now faces a sharp slowdown in the nonmineral sector as construction winds down on a large liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. LNG revenue increases are expected to be modest and oneoff over the near to medium term,...

This paper discusses Bangladesh's Third Review Under the Extended Credit Facility and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria. Political uncertainty and nationwide strikes are taking a toll on economic activity, with private investment most affected. Real GDP growth moderated in FY2013...

KEY ISSUES Context. The economy is very dependent on natural resources. Government spending, funded by oil exports, has driven rapid non-oil GDP growth but with high inflation, a loss of competitiveness, and weak employment generation. The political situation is relatively stable with elections...