This paper discusses Solomon Islands' Request for an Extension of the Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). All end-December 2014 performance criteria (PCs), indicative targets (ITs) for March 2015, and end-June 2015 PCs have been met by a considerable margin, with the exception...

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...

This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Micronesian economy continued its gradual recovery in fiscal year 2016 (ending September 30), after three years of contraction during 2012-14. Real GDP is estimated to have grown by 3.0 percent in 2016, driven by increased construction...

This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights that Fiji's economy is recovering well after Tropical Cyclone Winston and is expected to record its eighth consecutive year of expansion in 2017. Growth is expected to pick up to about 4 percent in 2017, underpinned by reconstruction activities, a...

China is at an historic juncture. After decades of high-speed growth, the authorities are now focusing on high-quality growth. Whether and how this shift is carried through will determine China's development path for decades to come. Recent strong growth momentum and significant financial...

KEY ISSUES Overview. Mongolia has made impressive progress in developing its economy over the past decade. Medium-term prospects remain promising given Mongolia’s large natural resource endowment, but macroeconomic policies have become unsustainably loose. The resulting balance of payments...

KEY ISSUES Context. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is going through a period of output fluctuations. The economy expanded in FY2012 by 3.2 percent, supported by export growth, but in FY2013 is estimated to have slowed to 0.8 percent due to the postponement of infrastructure projects....

KEY ISSUES Context. After two years of strong performance, growth slowed down in FY2013 due to declines in construction and tourism, while inflation moderated thanks to stable international food and fuel prices. The outlook points to a modest recovery, but Palau’s heavy reliance on tourism,...

KEY ISSUES Context. With GDP growth below trend and the investment phase of the mining boom having passed its peak and beginning to decline, a key issue is how Australia can manage the mining-production/export phase and encourage broader-based growth. The main external risks include a slowdown...

KEY ISSUES Near-term outlook. Malaysia’s healthy, noninflationary growth continued in 2013, albeit at a somewhat slower clip than earlier years. While domestic demand remained robust, the economy was buffeted by external headwinds, including from volatile capital flows in spring-summer and...