This 2002 Article IV Consultation for the Kingdom of the Netherlands—Aruba highlights that after growing at more than 4 percent per year in 1996–2000, the Aruba economy experienced two years of retrenchment, with GDP falling an estimated 1.2 percent in 2001 and 3.8 percent in 2002....

This 2003 Article IV Consultation for Hungary highlights that developments in growth and inflation were broadly positive in 2002. Buoyed by domestic demand, real GDP growth increased to 3.5 percent (year-over-year) in the second half of 2002 from 3.0 percent in the first half. Headline inflation...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix analyzes the key challenges facing Nigeria. The paper discusses issues and prospects in the oil and gas sector, provides basic information on the sector, and highlights the importance of strengthened governance. It describes the fiscal policy...

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 paper focuses on the 2005 Article IV Consultation and Review of the Program Supported by Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance for Haiti. Economic and social conditions in Haiti deteriorated significantly during the early 2000, as the continued political stalemate undermined external financial...

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,...

Property price inflation has accelerated during the last few years, propelled by low mortgage rates, poor returns from alternative investments, strong employment and immigration, and tax incentives. Strong housing demand has led to a substantial rise in housing prices. Most industrial countries...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that New Zealand’s GDP growth was particularly strong in 2004, at 4.8 percent, led by a surge in domestic demand. Private consumption grew by 6 percent, reflecting high employment growth, strong commodity prices, and household borrowing against...

The Czech economy has turned in a solid performance, and the medium-term prospects are good. The short-term outlook is positive, although downside risks are significant The outlook for low underlying inflation leaves scope for monetary policy to continue to support growth. The government's...

This Selected Issues paper on France underlies public intervention in financial markets. Econometric analysis indicates that in the long term, consumption tracks disposable income closely but is also affected by wealth effects. A counterfactual exercise suggests that a lower return to experience...