This 2005 Article IV Consultation for Pakistan reports that macroeconomic performance continues to be strong, but inflation and external pressures are evident. High growth, including in agriculture, is estimated to have raised disposable incomes. The authorities’ ambitious growth...

This Selected Issues paper on Azerbaijan highlights that rapid non-oil growth since the onset of the oil boom has contributed to substantial reduction in poverty and inequality. To keep growth inclusive, there is a need to accelerate economic diversification and make the nonhydrocarbon private...

This Selected Issues paper describes the current tax system in Bhutan and suggests options for tax policy reform. Though significant hydropower revenues are expected in the medium term as major projects come on-stream, reforms to the existing tax system in the interim will generate fiscal room...

St. Vincent and the Grenadines’s financial system has been largely unaffected by the global financial crisis. The report examines St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2009 Article IV Consultation and request for Disbursement under the Rapid-Access Component of the Exogenous Shocks Facility. The...

In 2008–09, economic activity in Burkina Faso was negatively affected by the increase in global food and fuel prices, the global economic and financial crisis, and heavy flooding in Ouagadougou in September 2009. These shocks are estimated to have contributed to a deterioration in poverty...

Israel was mildly affected by the global recession: following a slowdown in 2009, output is projected to grow by some 4 percent in 2010, led by consumption and exports. Robust fundamentals—including sustained pre-crisis fiscal consolidation—and a swift monetary and fiscal policy...

Portugal’s economy is in deep recession, and the crisis has opened up a large output gap, with severe consequences for employment and government revenue. While the focus is on the medium- and long-term, this analysis also offers insights on how deep the output gap is. It also highlights...

This paper presents key findings of the Second Review for Grenada under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Grenada’s economic outlook has deteriorated somewhat, mainly reflecting the global financial turmoil and slowing global growth. Financial turmoil and the global...

This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PARPA) for the Republic of Mozambique highlights the poverty situation and macroeconomic and fiscal frameworks. The strategy to consolidate macroeconomic stability and accelerate the second wave of reforms in PARPA II...

Algeria’s external position has strengthened. Algeria’s encouraging economic performances in recent years, reflecting market-oriented reforms and prudent macroeconomic policies in a favorable external environment, are discussed. The main challenges faced by Algeria are to ensure...