This Background Paper on Malaysia examines developments and trends in the labor market since the mid-1980s. The paper describes the changes in the employment structure and the labor force. It reviews wages and productivity trends and their effects on unit labor cost. The paper highlights that...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economic slowdown in the United States triggered a sharp weakening in Mexican economic activity in 2001 from the rapid pace in the preceding year. There was also a marked deceleration in domestic demand growth, as disposable income was...

This paper reviews economic developments in Vietnam during 1992–96. Economic growth was recorded at 8–9 percent during 1992–94, rising to a 9½ percent annual rate in 1995 and the first half of 1996. Investment has been rising steadily over the past few years, owing in...

This report provides the analysis of the IMF's projections and estimates on Tunisia's basic data; sectoral distribution of GDP at constant and current prices; supply and use of resources at current and constant prices; consumer price index; balance of payments; selected exchange rate indices;...

This paper presents an update to the Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Data Module for France. The paper discusses that France continues to observe the Special Data Dissemination Standard’s specifications for the coverage, periodicity, and timeliness of all data...

Paraguay’s Fourth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria are examined. The main challenge is to consolidate the macroeconomic gains achieved thus far and deepen structural reform. A stable macroeconomic environment will be the key for creating...

This Selected Issues paper reviews economic developments in Peru during 1995–98. In July 1996, the Executive Board of the IMF approved a follow-up extended arrangement in support of Peru’s program for 1996–98. After a slowdown in 1996, economic activity picked up in 1997...

The Islamic Republic of Iran inherited a highly centralized economy. The state-owned enterprises had monopolies over large sectors of the economy, including the financial system. This was compounded by Iran's excessive dependence on the volatile oil exports. Iran's five-year development plan...

This Selected Issues paper examines economic growth in Switzerland. It attempts to analyze whether slow growth is inescapable for Switzerland. The paper suggests that income convergence across countries contributes significantly to slow relative growth in Switzerland, but experience in several...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix provides a brief assessment of Cyprus’s external position and its composition in an international perspective. It discusses estimates of Cyprus’s external position based on partial International Investment Position data as well as...