Albania’s Third Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility is analyzed. Albania has reached a pivotal stage in its economic development. Increasing foreign direct investment and rapid financial sector development point to a faster convergence...

Kosovo’s economic performance has strengthened considerably, but structural deficiencies undermine export sector development and prospects for sustainable growth. The program seeks to restore fiscal sustainability and safeguard financial sector stability. Restoring fiscal sustainability...

This paper presents key findings of the Second Review for the Kyrgyz Republic under the Extended Credit Facility. Buoyant revenue collection and significant shortfalls in external financing led to a lower-than-programmed fiscal deficit for 2011. The overall health of the banking sector continued...

The Kyrgyz Republic has stabilized with the formation of a new coalition, but political uncertainty remains. Despite a slump in gold production and delays in donor financing, monetary and fiscal policies remained prudent. Improving the business climate, good governance, and strong institutions...

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...

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...

Albania’s macroeconomic performance over the past year has been good, with strong growth and a significant reduction in poverty under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility Arrangement. Executive Directors commended the new strategy for maintaining the macroeconomic stability,...

In analyzing the competitive impacts of bank consolidations, banking agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice tend to rely on the assumption that the market for bank services is local and is for services offered only by banks. This approach allows analysts to merge all products and services...

This Selected Issues paper examines prospects for increasing growth and reducing poverty in the Solomon Islands. The paper highlights that agriculture constitutes the largest sector of the Solomon Islands economy, averaging about 20 percent of GDP throughout the 1990s. The Solomon Islands also...