Mongolia has performed commendably under the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility arrangements. Executive Directors commended the prudent macroeconomic policies, low inflation, and reduction in vulnerability. They stressed the need to strengthen the fiscal position, improve economic governance,...

This paper reviews economic developments in Lithuania during 1993–96. Economic growth resumed in 1994 and gained further momentum in 1995; real GDP increased by an estimated 3 percent in 1995. Growth in 1995 was driven by the industrial sector, while agriculture performed poorly. The...

This paper describes economic developments in Belize during the 1990s. Following a strong performance in the late 1980s, Belize’s economy weakened in 1991–93, mainly because of a substantial deterioration in the fiscal position. The overall deficit of the nonfinancial public sector...

This report on the Observance of Standards and Codes data module provides a review of Lithuania’s data dissemination practices against the IMF’s Special Data Dissemination Standard, complemented by an in-depth assessment of the quality of the national accounts, consumer price...

The government’s strong monetary and fiscal policy framework, as well as the structural reforms introduced, have enabled the Canadian economy to respond flexibly to recent shocks and laid a solid foundation for recovery. Macroeconomic policies should remain supportive, with fiscal policy...

The government has fully complied with all the elements of the fourth floating completion point condition, which calls for the implementation of reforms to develop human capital and social protection. Investment in human capital development represents the second pillar of Nicaragua’s...

The Selected Issues paper analyzes how fast Ireland will grow in the future. The approach of this paper is to consider the catch-up in labor utilization productivity and use independent demographic projections and other considerations to make reasonable assumptions about labor productivity and...

This paper discusses Iraq’s request for Stand-By Arrangement for 15 months from December 2005 through March 2007, which they intend to treat as precautionary. The authorities’ policies have succeeded in promoting overall macroeconomic stability despite the extremely difficult...

This Selected Issues paper for Italy presents updated estimates of potential growth for Italy, using new techniques that draw on co-movements of output, employment, and inflation over the business cycle to distinguish trends from cycles. The paper provides an assessment of an...

The Selected Issues paper provides an overview of trends, performance export growth, value added, and employment, account of the structure and evolution of Lesotho's textiles during the decade through 2002, and discusses future prospects and key issues. It analyzes the implications of the...