This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that the annual growth in Poland in 2004 reached 5½ percent, with a surge in growth in the run-up to European Union accession dissipating in the second half of 2004. Both domestic and net external demand contributed to the slowdown. Consumption and...

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency in Germany. The assessment has two parts. The first is a description of practices, prepared by the IMF staff on the basis of discussions with the authorities, their comprehensive responses to the fiscal transparency questionnaire, and...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation for Vietnam reports that high credit growth in the context of weak bank balance sheets remains a cause for concern. The overall fiscal deficit narrowed from 7.2 percent of GDP in 2003 to 4½ percent of GDP in 2004, but a growing program of off-budget...

The staff report for the 2005 Article IV Consultation on the Republic of Estonia focuses on the economic outlook and risks. Robust economic growth continues, largely driven by domestic demand. Estonia has achieved significant nominal convergence; meeting all of the Maastricht criteria, save for...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation states that the strength of the Tunisian economy continued in 2003, and the short-term outlook is favorable. Favorable agricultural production and robust nonenergy exports contributed to high growth and a narrowing of the external current account deficit in...

Macedonia's macroeconomic stabilization program continues to rest on the basis of fiscal and monetary policies, and has restored the fiscal balance to a sustainable level after two years of high deficits. Further structural measures are important to address impediments to growth and to reduce...

This paper examines Uruguay’s Request for a Stand-By Arrangement. Although the external current account shifted to a moderate deficit, mainly reflecting the recovery in imports, export performance has been robust, and gross international reserves are now about three-fourths their...

The staff report for the First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility on Georgia highlights economic developments and policies. Growth has remained robust and inflation subdued against the backdrop of steady remonetization. Rapid growth in fiscal...

This Selected Issues paper on Pakistan reports that fiscal adjustment, supported by official and private inflows and debt relief, has led to a substantial improvement in public and external debt indicators. International reserves have recovered close to US$10 billion. Financial sector reforms...