Mali’s 2008 Article IV Consultation and request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility are discussed. Mali’s economy has doubled in size since the democratic transition of the early 1990s. Sound macroeconomic management has produced growth...

This paper reports on Bangladesh’s Financial System Stability Assessment. Considerable progress has been made in strengthening the resilience of the country's financial sector. Total assets of the banking sector have increased twofold since 2003, and credit to the private sector has risen...

This paper discusses the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in the perspective of sizable historical debt relief and large positive net resource flows to HIPCs. It argues that, by substantially reducing HIPCs’ debt stocks and debt service payments, the Initiative provides a...

Performance under the program has been satisfactory. Real GDP growth is higher than estimated owing to substantially higher than projected agricultural production. Burkina Faso continues to depend heavily on external assistance and on cotton exports, and is highly vulnerable to terms-of-trade...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economic growth of Korea rose to about 6 percent in 2002 from 3 percent in 2001. Buoyant consumption and residential construction spending underpinned the recovery beginning in late 2001. In 2002, exports rebounded strongly in spite of a...

This paper discusses key findings of the Second Review and Financing Assurances Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement for Latvia. The sharp economic downturn is starting to bottom out, although recovery has not yet begun. The authorities have implemented the June 2009 supplementary budget, and...

Afghanistan has made important achievements in recent years. The 2011 Article IV Consultation highlights that authorities have taken steps to lay the foundation for economic stability and growth, despite a very difficult security situation and the challenges associated with building political...

The labor market remains weak, disinflation has slowed, but falling wages are improving competitiveness. The weak economic environment is putting pressure on the banking sector. Financial conditions have deteriorated recently because of international financial market tensions. The Bank of Latvia...

This paper assesses Burkina Faso’s 2003 Article IV Consultation and a Request for a New Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Burkina Faso’s performance under PRGF-supported programs during 1993–2002 and in implementing the policy...