In November 2002, the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed a blueprint of building a comprehensive well-off society in an all-round way in 2020. Since 2003, China's economic strength has been significantly enhanced. The socialist market economic system and its...

This paper discusses Morocco's Ex Post Evaluation of Exceptional Access Under the 2012 Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) Arrangement. The Ex Post Evaluation confirms that the 2012-14 PLL arrangement was consistent with the PLL qualification standards and requirements under the exceptional...

This paper discusses key findings of the Second Post-Program Monitoring Discussions with Portugal. Portugal's economic recovery remains on track in 2015, boosted by rising exports and consumption, together with a recent upturn in investment. Real GDP expanded by 1.5 percent (year-over-year) in...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The economy is recovering and the outlook is favorable but still subject to significant risks. After slowing to below 2 1\2 percent in 2014, growth is expected to be close to 5 percent in 2015, boosted by a strong agricultural output and a gradual acceleration of activity in...

This paper analyzes the aggregate effects of a revenue neutral fiscal-cumsocial policy reform in a typical developing country that consists of two main changes: (1) the implementation of universal social insurance to replace the current dual social protection system (i.e., a reconfiguration of...

The ongoing political decentralization in Asia, with central governments devolving to local governments the responsibilities of delivering key development projects and public services, calls for sound local government finance. Local government finance in the region exhibits several problems:...