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 Background Paper on Vanuatu reviews the development of monetary control instruments in five small island economies in the South Pacific (Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa) and draws some lessons from their experience. The paper highlights that, except Solomon Islands...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that domestic demand in Slovenia rebounded strongly in 2003 after three anemic years. All components of domestic demand strengthened appreciably, fueled by declines in interest rates and the associated pickup in bank credit to the private sector....

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...

This paper provides model-based projections of inflation, and quantifies the impact of the factors that determine inflation. The reasons behind the poor labor market performance in Greece and the remedial policies are discussed. The new economy is at a relatively early stage of development in...

This Selected Issues paper looks at short-term inflation dynamics in the new member states (NMS) of the European Union, focusing on the role of monetary policy regimes. It models the determinants of inflation in the NMS and assesses how different theoretical frameworks best fit the data. The...

The analysis is structured around the standard taxonomy of transmission channels. A monetary tightening must limit banks' ability to supply loans by reducing bank reserves/bank credit. The direct interest rate channel is the strongest channel of the monetary policy transmission mechanism (MPTM),...

This Selected Issues paper examines the potential costs of faster disinflation in Russia, drawing on the experience of European transition countries. The paper analyzes this experience, discusses factors contributing to the persistence of moderate inflation, and quantifies the disinflation costs...

This 2003 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic growth in the Republic of Slovenia slowed during 2001–02 to about 3 percent, owing to a weak external environment and subdued domestic demand. Export growth slowed as demand from the European Union weakened, but the impact was...