This paper discusses key findings of the Third Review under the Stand-By Arrangement for Georgia. With monetary policy impaired by high dollarization, the authorities’ response to the downturn relies mostly on fiscal stimulus. The reduction of policy interest rates and ample liquidity...

This paper discusses key findings of the Second Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Armenia. The authorities met all quantitative performance criteria for end-June and end-September, with the exception of the end-September fiscal balance. All structural benchmarks for end-June and...

Prospects for the future remain favorable, provided that policy actions are taken to address the risks and challenges that China faces. The government recognizes the need to contain investment and credit growth, and has tightened the monetary policy in response. Greater exchange rate flexibility...

Strong fiscal stimulus in Azerbaijan continued in 2011 triggered by unanticipated increases in global oil prices. The 2011 Article IV Consultation highlights that near and medium-term economic prospects are favorable and nonhydrocarbon growth could reach 6 percent in 2012. Executive Directors...

This paper discusses key findings of the First Review under the Stand-By Arrangement for the Republic of Armenia. In light of the large increase in Armenia’s financing needs, the authorities have requested an augmentation of IMF resources in the amount of 180 percent of quota. The revised...

Staff Discussion Notes showcase the latest policy-related analysis and research being developed by individual IMF staff and are published to elicit comment and to further debate. These papers are generally brief and written in nontechnical language, and so are aimed at a broad audience...

The rapid increase in international trade and financial integration over the past decade and the growing importance of emerging markets in world trade and GDP have inspired the IMF to place stronger emphasis on multilateral surveillance, macro-financial linkages, and the implications of...

This paper explores the role of exchange rates in emerging economies with inflation-targeting regimes, an issue that has become especially germane during the current episode of financial turmoil and volatile capital flows. Under inflation targeting, the interest rate is the main monetary policy...

Currency option implied volatility predicts more efficiently exchange rate volatility for the Polish zloty relative to the Czech koruna, reflecting differences in the frequency of central bank intervention in the foreign exchange market. A GARCH model shows a positive impact of the introduction...

Standard theory shows that sterilized foreign exchange interventions do not affect equilibrium prices and quantities, and that domestic and foreign currency denominated bonds are perfect substitutes. This paper shows that when fiscal policy is not sufficiently flexible in response to spending...