While the world economy continues to be unsettled, economic growth in Kazakhstan has been solid. Strong domestic demand, coupled with increased oil output and favorable weather conditions, is likely to boost economic growth. An expansion of credit was the key driver of growth in private...

The objective of this 2009 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economic developments and prospects is to review the implication of the triple food-fuel-financial crisis for MENA economies. Chapter one reviews the year 2008 and the first few months of 2009. It discusses the impact of the global...

Kenyans are living two decades longer; the fertility and infant mortality rates have been cut in half; and school enrollment, at both the primary and secondary level, has more than doubled. On the economic front, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita increased eightfold; the largest share of GDP...

Rwanda's economic growth slowed in the first half of 2013. Weighed by a slowdown in domestic demand, the economy grew at a modest rate. Decelerating GDP growth mirrored the low growth of services and was the lowest half-year growth rate since 2010, when the domestic economy was hard hit by the...

This report reviews South Africa's recent economic and social developments. It underlines that South Africa's current economic rebound may not be sustained if the fundamental factors undermining its growth potential are not boldly addressed. This includes in particular income inequality, which...

The Economic Update (SEU) evaluates the recent (2016-17) growth performance and macroeconomic policies in Senegal, thus providing a basis for the policy dialog with the Government and other stakeholders. The first section of the Economic Update evaluates the drivers of growth and the...

This report looks beyond the current global financial crisis to the restoration of dynamic long-run growth in Serbia. The answer in this report is that Serbia will need to fundamentally alter its growth model to compete effectively in world markets. The past model relying on excessive inflows of...

Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on international trade even when compared to other nations of its size and income level. However, it is equally clear that the country could derive far more benefit from its international trade opportunities than it does at the present time. This study examines...

This report deals with medium and long-term growth issues rather than the challenges posed by the world financial crisis, the structural policy options presented in the report become even more important in that context, and can help to partially mitigate the impact of the crisis on Macedonia....

With favorable geographical location, macroeconomic stability, debt reduction, progress on structural reforms, and political stability, Benin will seem to have the foundations for a dynamic, diversified economy. Yet the country's economic structure has not evolved, remaining highly dependent on...