Since end-2001, the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) has focused on crisis management, establishing or rebuilding fundamental institutions and basic government services, and maintaining economic stability with the help of the international community. The authorities have made significant strides...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that Zimbabwe’s pace of economic deterioration slowed somewhat in 2004, but appears to have picked up again in the first half of 2005. IMF staff estimates that real GDP fell by about 4 percent in 2004, compared with a contraction of 10½...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that Zimbabwe’s real GDP declined by 9.3 percent in 2003, and an additional broad-based decline is projected in 2004. Year-over-year inflation reached 600 percent during November 2003–February 2004. However, monthly inflation, which had...

This 2003 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economy of the Republic of Poland began to recover during 2002 from the sharp weakening of growth in 2000–01, but the recovery is fragile. Private consumption picked up gradually, fueled by rising real fiscal transfers, easing monetary...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that since 2000, economic growth in Costa Rica has slowed to about 2 percent. Inflation has remained at 10 percent, and unemployment has remained at about 6 percent. The external current account deficit has increased to about 5.5 percent of GDP,...

The program made good progress toward creating the conditions for faster sustained growth over the medium term. The economic policies aim to preserve the program's macroeconomic framework. Fiscal policy is expected to stay on a sustainable path. The central bank has been successful in achieving...

Honduras’s First Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria are discussed. The authorities are taking measures to contain inflation. The inflation target has been raised to accommodate the first-round impact of the oil price...

This 2003 Article IV Consultation states that Belarus made noticeable progress in some areas of economic reform over the past several years, but overall macroeconomic performance in 2002 was mixed. Inflation in 2002 was the lowest since Belarus became independent, yet it remains the highest in...

This paper discusses the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Guinea. Agreement in principle was reached on the SMP from April 2005 to March 2006. The program would support the authorities’ efforts in restoring macroeconomic stability and establish a track record of policy implementation to...

Honduras’s Third Review under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and Request for Waiver and Modification of Performance Criteria are discussed. The current stance of monetary and exchange rate policies are broadly appropriate, and financial sector reforms are proceeding. Progress...