KEY ISSUES Context: Real GDP growth is projected to remain robust at 8.1 percent in 2013, led bymining, construction, and services. Inflation should reach 8.5 percent in December (y/y)due to higher international food prices and recent exchange rate pressures. The baseline outlook is positive,...

This paper reviews the Annual Progress Report (APR) on Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) on Benin. The APR presents an overview of the implementation of the strategy addressing in turn the new vision of development in Benin, the major projects initiated for the creation of national wealth...

This paper discusses Liberia's Seventh and Eighth Reviews under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, and Request for Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria (PCs). Three of six structural benchmarks (SBs) for the seventh review and two of four SBs for the eighth review were met. The...

This paper on Romania was prepared by a staff team of the International Monetary Fund as background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country. It is based on the information available at the time it was completed on September 13, 2012. The views expressed in this...

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

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

This paper examines Iceland's Observance of Standards and Codes on the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. Iceland's legal requirements in place to combat money laundering and terrorist financing are generally...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes sustaining potential growth in Aruba. As in the other Caribbean countries, there are growing concerns in Aruba about the slowdown in economic growth over the past two decades and the consequent tepid outlook for potential growth. Tackling such concerns...

This Selected Issues paper estimates both Guatemala’s potential output and output gap using a wide range of econometric techniques. The analysis suggests that Guatemala’s potential output growth is about 3.5 percent for the whole sample period and that the output gap is almost...