In September 2017, Ghana's economy expanded for the fifth successive quarter by 9.3 percent compared to just 4.3 percent in September 2016. This reflects continued high levels of growth in the industry sector, driven by mining and petroleum. Oil production rose by 16.6 percent compared with a...

As Malaysia continues to strive toward high-income status, accelerating productivity growth has become the country's central economic policy challenge. Productivity growth has become increasingly important as the country's traditional economic engines have slowed. Declining oil and gas output,...

Since 2003, Peru has emerged as an open, rapidly growing economy. Over the review period of 2003-09, successive governments adopted policy platforms aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability, furthering the private sector supply response, broadening participation in growth, improving social...

This systematic country diagnostic is structured in two main parts, one backward looking and the other forward looking. The backward-looking analysis aims to draw lessons on the determinants of poverty and sustainable and inclusive growth from (a) stakeholder consultations; (b) a poverty profile;...

Despite continuing external challenges, economic output rose strongly in 2016 according to official estimates. Driven mainly by foreign-financed public and private investment, real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by a robust 6.9 percent. At the same time, a protracted decline in real...

The Philippine economy has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in East Asia, with growth accelerating to 7.1 percent in the third quarter. The acceleration of domestic demand since the first quarter of 2012 reflects the country's strong macroeconomic fundamentals, stronger government...

In 2016, Kazakhstan's GDP growth continued to slow and real wages declined further, negatively affecting poverty rates. The authorities reacted by extending additional spending measures and easing monetary conditions. In the medium term, Kazakhstan's economic growth rate is projected to pick up...

The Lao economy is estimated to have grown at around 7 percent in 2016, a slight moderation from 7.4 percent in the previous year. Inflation pressures remain low, though prices increased faster in the second half of the year as oil prices recovered. The fiscal deficit widened significantly in...

Thailand has made tremendous progress toward the twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Notably, Thailand has achieved these gains despite high political instability, with short-lived constitutions and frequent military coups. However, continued instability...