Vietnam's macroeconomic performance has been strong, fueled by strong export performance, poverty reduction, and domestic investment. Executive Directors welcomed this development, and stressed the need for strong monetary, exchange rate, and fiscal policies. They appreciated the prudent...

This paper examines Uruguay’s Fourth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Requests for Modification of the Arrangement. The macroeconomic framework is broadly on track, but progress with structural reform has lagged. With regard to the quantitative performance criteria, there was a...

This paper examines Tajikistan’s Third Review of the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion. Performance under the PRGF has been generally satisfactory. All quantitative performance criteria, two of...

This paper discusses key findings of the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) and Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) on Banking Supervision, Securities Regulation, Insurance Supervision and Regulation, and Securities Settlement Systems for Belgium. The assessment...

Activity and fiscal policy continue to exceed expectations, but strong bank credit growth has fuelled a sharp increase in the current account deficit. In this context, the new administrations recognize the need to establish the macroeconomic stability quickly. These actions are supported by...

This paper examines Pakistan’s Fifth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Request for Waiver and Modification of Performance Criteria. Although most reforms were broadly on track, there were setbacks in energy sector reforms,...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that Paraguay’s economic performance in recent years has been characterized by slow economic growth and increasing unemployment and poverty rates. This stagnation reflects structural impediments to growth, exacerbated by external and domestic...

Algeria’s Financial System Stability Assessment highlights the Observance of Standards and Codes on monetary and financial policy transparency and banking supervision. Financial intermediation in Algeria will be bank-based in the future, and only politically difficult decisions to...

Despite far-reaching banking sector reforms and a prolonged period of macroeconomic stability and strong economic growth, financial intermediation in Armenia has lagged behind other transition countries, and interest rate spreads have remained higher than in most Central and Eastern European...

A survey of the financial systems of Caribbean countries reveals systems dominated by banks, with services widely available. Jamaica is the only country to have experienced a financial crisis. The paper describes recent improvements in the regulatory framework, and examines factors, which affect...