The policies in a challenging political and economic environment are discussed in this study. The importance of reforms to enhance the budget process, tax administration, and expenditure control is encouraged. A higher growth path will require far-reaching structural reforms to bolster Comoros's...

Strong policy implementation under the Stand By-Arrangement (SBA) has contributed to Latvia’s economic recovery and put attainment of Maastricht criteria for euro adoption within reach. The government has continued to achieve substantial fiscal savings and strengthened its active labor...

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that Sudan’s economic growth continued to be strong in 2006. Overall real GDP increased by 12 percent, despite a lower growth in oil production than previously projected. Non-oil GDP increased by roughly 10 percent—buoyed by a continued...

In this paper, we consider the design of the surveillance, and, in particular, the fiscal criteria in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) with the view to ensuring they are consistent with internal and external sustainability. This consistency is important within a...

This 2010 Article IV Consultation highlights that real activity in Papua New Guinea was relatively unaffected by the global downturn, with growth easing to roughly 5 percent in 2009 from 7 percent in 2008. A number of factors contributed to this favorable outcome. The country’s financial...

This paper assesses the scope and coverage of quasi-fiscal activities (QFAs) in Ghana. We find that while QFAs have been reduced recently, they remain significant. The extensive nature of these activities has several macroeconomic and structural policy implications. An extended measure of public...

The staff report for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) first review under the Stand-By Arrangement is presented. The precipitous drop in demand for BiH’s exports and the drying up of foreign direct investment triggered a sharp decline in private investment. Tightening credit...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that recent accession to the European Union and gains in growth performance reinforced the Czech Republic’s position as one of the most open and developed economies among the new member states. Thanks to substantial foreign direct investment,...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that impressive growth continued unabated in Lithuania in 2004. GDP expanded by an estimated 6¾ percent in 2004, driven by vigorous private consumption and investment growth. The unemployment rate declined to 10½ percent of the labor force but...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that GDP per capita for Papua New Guinea remains low. An unattractive investment environment, primarily owing to weak infrastructure, problems with governance, and high crime curtails development. Executive Directors have commended the authorities for...