This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that rapid domestic demand growth in Ukraine pushed the economy beyond its capacity in 2007–08, leading to accelerating inflation. The demand expansion, fed by fiscal and income policies and a capital-inflow driven surge in money and credit...

Bolivia showed a solid macroeconomic performance in recent years, owing to its strong trade and prudent economic policies. IMF staff stressed the need to tighten monetary conditions through increasing the policy interest rate as a means to combat inflation. The Executive Board praised...

This paper discusses key findings of the Fifth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for Georgia. Despite economic sanctions imposed by Russia in 2006, Georgia’s economic growth continues to be strong, and inflation has declined. Growth is expected to reach 9 percent in...

The Joint Staff Note (JNS) reports that Welfare Improvement Strategy (WIS) showed a commendable effort under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in Uzbekistan. They stressed that implementation capacity within the government would have to be strengthened. Executive Directors agreed that...

Lebanon’s credit growth in 2008–10 has been concentrated in trade and services, household loans, and the construction sector. These sectors accounted for almost 80 percent of all new loans extended since 2008. Real estate lending in particular has been increased substantially. On...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the Ukrainian business cycle. It focuses on the price of steel—Ukraine’s major export—and its relation to the economic performance. It establishes a forecasting model for steel prices, which points to downside risks to steel prices. It...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the underlying sources of growth in Uganda, suggesting that the contribution to growth from total factor productivity has been minor, while the high population growth poses a significant challenge to sustain a rapid improvement in living standards. The paper...

This Selected Issues paper examines the sources of real growth in Guinea. It identifies and quantifies the impact on real GDP growth of both the exogenous shocks and the policy changes that have occurred since 2000. The paper offers, first, some empirical evidence on real GDP growth in Guinea...

This 2013 Article IV Consultation highlights Nigeria’s poverty and income inequality that remain high and social and governance indicators that are below averages for sub-Saharan Africa. Growth is expected to remain strong, driven by agriculture, trade, and services. Inflation should...