This Selected Issues paper for Italy presents updated estimates of potential growth for Italy, using new techniques that draw on co-movements of output, employment, and inflation over the business cycle to distinguish trends from cycles. The paper provides an assessment of an...

According to MGDS-II, certain major factors such as Malawi’s vulnerability to external shocks, inadequate policy response, and weak implementation capacity have hindered growth and development of the economy. The political risks resulting from the upcoming 2014 tripartite elections have...

This paper presents the Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Progress Report for Côte d’Ivoire. Since the end of the crisis in April 2011, Côte d'Ivoire has gradually recovered economic activity and social cohesion, as reflected in the reopening of banks, schools and health centers,...

This paper focuses on the Medium-Term Development Program for the Kyrgyz Republic. The aim of this program is to put the economy of the country into a sustainable vector of development and improve the budget status to prevent social effects, increase living standard, and reduce poverty in the...

This paper focuses on the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (SCADD) for Burkina Faso. It provides an overview of a decade of development, takes stock of the recent performance of Burkina Faso in various areas, and identifies the main challenges. The paper spells out a...

This Selected Issues paper on Serbia’s Article IV Consultation reviews the precrisis growth paradigm and its legacy vulnerabilities. The underlying growth model proved vulnerable to shocks, being associated with a high share of nontradable, low domestic savings, and a fragile external...

Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy provides a medium-term framework for achieving the country’s long-term development goals and aspirations as embodied in Rwanda Vision 2020, the seven-year Government of Rwanda programme, and the Millennium Development...

Executive Directors commend Bangladesh in addressing the major challenges to growth and poverty reduction. The strategy is comprehensive and confronts the key issues impeding sustainable development and inclusive growth in Bangladesh. Implementing sound macro-financial policies, intensifying...

Lesotho’s National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) serves as an implementation strategy for the national vision. It recognizes the significant challenges Lesotho faces in reducing poverty and making growth more broad-based. Overall, it presents a coherent analysis and offers an...

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are prepared by member countries in broad consultation with stakeholders and development partners, including the staffs of the World Bank and the IMF. Updated every three years with annual progress reports, they describe the country’s...