This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Czech Republic’s GDP expanded by 3.1 percent in 2003 and the first quarter of 2004, mainly supported by household consumption. Investment was also strong in 2003—driven by spending on public infrastructure—and swelled in...

Political instability and weak macroeconomic management have generated negative real per capita gross domestic product growth rates, contributing to widespread poverty and a worsening of social indicators. The challenge is to attain a higher rate of growth on a sustained basis and raise the...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that Hungary’s economy achieved valuable gains in 2004 with GDP growth recovering to 4 percent. The growth was supported by strong investment and robust export growth. Consumption slowed in response to rising unemployment, a moderation in wage...

Performance under the program has been satisfactory. Real GDP growth is higher than estimated owing to substantially higher than projected agricultural production. Burkina Faso continues to depend heavily on external assistance and on cotton exports, and is highly vulnerable to terms-of-trade...

Trinidad and Tobago has enjoyed positive growth, low inflation, and a steady decline in unemployment, but challenges remain. Executive Directors commended the prudent management, and stressed the need for a macroeconomic framework underpinned by a three-year rolling budget and pension reform....

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Central African Republic’s period since 2000 has been marked by poor economic performance, owing in large part to military disturbances, but also to weak administration and poor program implementation. The conflict that ended in March...

The staff report for the Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility highlights economic developments and fiscal policy. The political transition process has advanced significantly in 2005, and further progress has been made in securing peace....

Tanzania showed strong economic growth owing to its sound macroeconomic policies and structural reforms, under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) Arrangement. Executive Directors commended this step, and emphasized for higher revenue mobilization through reforms of tax...

This paper focuses on Ukraine’s 2005 Article IV Consultation and Ex Post Assessment of Longer-Term Program Engagement. After four years of strong activity, annual growth has slowed sharply, from a peak of about 12 percent in 2004 to 3 percent for January–September 2005. Fiscal...