This paper discusses key findings of the Fifth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for Georgia. Despite economic sanctions imposed by Russia in 2006, Georgia’s economic growth continues to be strong, and inflation has declined. Growth is expected to reach 9 percent in...

After five years of Paraguay’s high growth led, in part by agro-exporting sectors, the external environment has turned less favorable, with a sharp decline of export prices and a curtailment of external credit lines. The Selected Issues paper for Paraguay discusses economic development...

This Seventh Review Under the Extended Credit Facility of Haiti focuses on economic activity that continued to advance in FY2013, despite negative weather events early in the fiscal year. The fiscal deficit increased to 6.7 percent of GDP in FY2013 owing to a gasoline price freeze that dented...

Sudan’s 2006 Article IV Consultation reports that growth has been robust, inflation has been kept at a single-digit level, and important reforms have been undertaken. There has been progress with financial sector reforms and trade liberalization, and the managed floating exchange rate...

This 2014 Article IV Consultation highlights that a gradual economic recovery appears to be under way in Jamaica. Growth is estimated at 0.9 percent in FY2013/14, as mining, agriculture, and tourism picked up. Recorded unemployment remains high, but fell from 16 percent to 13.5 percent (in...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Context. Sri Lanka’s economy has navigated recent market turbulence relatively well. Growth has remained solid, inflation is in mid-single digits, and the current account deficit has narrowed. From mid-May, the exchange rate came under pressure as market expectations of...

This paper analyzes likely effectiveness of the fiscal policy in supporting aggregate demand in Australia. The simulation analysis illustrates that the type of fiscal measure and the underlying behavioral responses have an important impact on the magnitude of fiscal multipliers. The Global...

The staff report on Guatemala’s 2009 Article IV Consultation and Second Review under the Stand-By Arrangement, and Requests for Modification of Performance Criterion and Consultation Clause are presented. There are signs that the Guatemalan economy is starting to recover. Real GDP growth...

New Zealand has experienced a decade-long robust economic expansion, owing to its sound macroeconomic policies and structural reforms, but resource constraints have emerged. Executive Directors welcomed the policy settings, supported by the anticipated evolution of external and global...

KEY ISSUES The economy is embarking on sustainable growth, but the main challenge will be to boost long-run growth by structural reforms and reorienting fiscal policy. Supply-side slowdowns in the energy sector are ending, while available evidence suggests non-energy growth is robust and...