This paper discusses Nicaragua’s 2005 Article IV Consultation and Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Reviews Under the Three Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). The economy continued to perform well, notwithstanding pressure from higher oil prices. Strong...

This paper examines Congo’s 2004 Article IV Consultation and New Staff-Monitored Program (SMP). In the context of improved security, the pace of economic activity in the non-oil sector has increased. Non-oil real GDP increased by about 10 percent per year on average during 2000–03....

This paper focuses on Nicaragua’s Fifth and Sixth Reviews Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Request for Waiver and Modification of Performance Criteria. The macroeconomic performance has been broadly satisfactory. Economic growth is...

This paper reviews Congo’s Performance Under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) and Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. Improvements in the political environment and an increased focus on economic management since late 2002 have already led...

This paper assesses the performance of Peru’s alternative fiscal rules in supporting medium-term fiscal policy objectives. Peru has shown steady fiscal surpluses and declining debt vulnerabilities. Subnational government constrains to borrow internationally have been relaxed, which could...

Togo’s economic performance continued its gradual improvement, marking progress in overcoming the legacy of its protracted domestic crisis. The program has broadly achieved its objectives for growth and macroeconomic stability. The improving economic performance and sound policies have...

This paper presents Portugal’s third review under the extended arrangement and request for waiver of applicability of end-March performance criteria. The government has initiated labor market reforms, privatizations, telecom sector liberalization, and improved competition framework....

The Executive Board of the IMF has completed the fifth review of Greece’s economic performance under a program supported by a three-year Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for the country. The completion of the review enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR1.9 billion,...

This Selected Issues paper for Sweden reports that the gradual introduction of a detailed fiscal framework accompanied the successful consolidation effort over the last decade in Sweden. The framework includes a surplus target of 2 percent of GDP for the general government, multiyear expenditure...

This paper reviews the trade-offs in Switzerland, focusing on challenges for fiscal policy coordination. It reviews the benefits and costs of a highly decentralized government, describes the Swiss institutional architecture, and analyzes Switzerland’s fiscal performance. It also discusses...