KEY ISSUES Context. Since the mid-2000s, macroeconomic stability supported by high world commodity prices and active social policies have contributed to nearly tripling income per capita and reducing poverty in Bolivia. Prudent fiscal policies allowed saving a sizable portion of the hydrocarbon...

KEY ISSUES Context. Economic performance has been weak and public debt is high. Foreign reserves are under pressure as fiscal and external imbalances widened in 2012 and further in 2013. Recognizing the need for urgent action, the authorities announced ambitious budget consolidation proposals in...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Macroeconomic developments are broadly in line with program projections. There are signs of a gradual recovery from the effects of the global financial crisis and hurricane Sandy. Real GDP growth for 2013/14 is projected at just under 1 percent, supported by improved activity...

KEY ISSUES Context. Macroeconomic stability has been maintained and policies are broadly in line with the recommendations of the 2012 Article IV consultation. Growth is expected to slow somewhat, reflecting in part lower coffee production and slowdown in construction. Inflation expectations are...

KEY ISSUES Context: Over the past year, Mexico has maintained macroeconomic stability and has made significant progress in advancing growth-oriented structural reforms. The country’s close ties with the global economy, while a source of strength, heighten the economy’s exposure to external...

KEY ISSUES Context. Brazil is recovering gradually from the growth slowdown that started in mid- 2011, but the recovery remains uneven and inflation elevated. Output is estimated at potential with supply-side constraints, linked to tight labor market conditions and protracted weak investment...

Extended arrangement. On May 1, 2013, the IMF Executive Board approved a request by the Jamaican authorities for a four-year Extended Arrangement in an amount of SDR 615.38 million (225 percent of quota) with a first purchase equal to 50 percent of quota. Economic developments. Growth has...

The economy is reviving. Output is poised for a modest recovery in 2013 after again registering disappointing growth in 2012. Maintenance-related outages will continue to hamper the energy sector, but the non-energy sector should grow around 21⁄2 percent. Core inflation remains moderate and...

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

Significant progress has been made in Haiti to safeguard macroeconomic stability after the January 2010 earthquake. However, the pace of the reconstruction has been slow and the business environment remains unattractive. Further development and strengthening social safety nets are essential. The...