Despite Zambia's continued battle with poverty, the authorities have maintained sustained growth and macroeconomic stability during the past decade. 2011 showed robust GDP growth supported by agricultural activities and strong bank credit. But the Executive Board expressed concern over the risks...

This paper examines the People’s Republic of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s 2008 Article IV Consultation. Growth has slowed in the first half of the year, as external conditions have worsened. Inflation remains elevated, driven by food prices and housing...

This Selected Issues paper for the Kingdom of the Netherlands reports the Antillean economy lacks natural resources and is open and undiversified, relying mainly on exports of services such as tourism, international financial services, shipping, and oil refining. Exports and domestic consumer...

This note is on Korea’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, the prospects and challenges ahead, and the development of its financial sector. Assessment of recent government initiatives to develop capital markets has been presented. The note discusses restrictions on Chaebol ownership...

The size of the U.S. economy and, in particular, the global dominance of its financial markets creates uniquely large policy spillovers. Concerns that the end of QE2 could lead to a rapid reversal of emerging market capital flows appear overblown. A credible plan for a gradual U.S. fiscal...

Jamaica has performed well under the Stand-By Arrangement program. Executive Directors commended that overall macroeconomic performance under the program has been encouraging. Directors welcomed the program aimed at fiscal responsibility legislation and central treasury management, public debt...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that the global financial crisis, which began to affect the economy of San Marino in the second half of 2008, is likely to continue to do so in 2009–10. Short-term vulnerabilities in the financial sector have risen owing to exposure of the...

This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) reviews the Kenya Vision 2030 (the Vision) First Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2008–12 prepared by the government of Kenya. IMF staff finds that the objectives of the MTP are generally compelling and well considered on a sector-by-sector basis, but less so...

The Austrian authorities have been making great efforts since 2003 to enhance the quality of banking supervision and keep up-to-date with banking sector developments. Banks face a reputation risk arising from exposure to money laundering/financing of terrorism risk in both domestic and...

Peru’s macroeconomic policies continue to be strong under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). Executive Directors appreciated the implementation of policies to entrench macroeconomic stability, lower poverty, and lessen vulnerabilities, and also emphasized the need to maintain a prudent...