This paper examines Uruguay’s Sixth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Requests for Modification of the Arrangement. The macroeconomic framework is on track, but progress with structural reform remains uneven. Fiscal performance has been better than programmed, reflecting buoyant...

The paper describes the impressive economic progress made by Iceland in implementing program policies, stabilizing the exchange rate, and bringing inflation down, under a program supported by a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The authorities noted that key challenges are to reduce the high level of...

Dominica showed a commendable progress under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program. Executive Directors welcomed the strong macroeconomic performance, fiscal adjustment, and collaborative debt restructuring effort. They appreciated the introduction of a value-added tax (VAT)...

This paper discusses key findings of the Second Review Under the Policy Support Instrument for Mozambique. Overall performance under the program was satisfactory but encountered unexpected challenges. Domestic revenues were stronger than envisaged, but the end-December 2007 assessment criterion...

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania’s macroeconomic developments have remained broadly positive, despite high international fuel and food prices and the near-term drought impact. Supported by a rapid growth in manufacturing industries, non-oil output is expected to grow by 4.8 percent in...

The Lebanese financial system has so far weathered the global financial crisis. The 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that deposit inflows decelerated briefly in the aftermath of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, but have resumed at a rapid pace since then. Executive Directors have welcomed...

Lebanon is facing a difficult global, regional, and domestic environment simultaneously for the first time in more than a decade. Domestic policies should aim at instilling confidence and tackling key policy challenges, such as preserving macroeconomic stability and paving the way for a more...

This paper discusses key findings of the Fifth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Grenada. Four of the six quantitative performance criteria for end-November 2009 were met. The primary balance, excluding the grants target, was missed by 3.3 percent of GDP owing to...

This paper presents Seychelles’ 2008 Article IV Consultation and Request for a Stand-By Arrangement. Large macroeconomic imbalances and vulnerabilities resulting from longstanding unsustainable macroeconomic policies, combined with recent external shocks, culminated in mid-2008 with the...