This 2006 Article IV Consultation highlights that Ukraine’s fiscal policy in 2005–06 reshuffled resources from higher saving businesses to lower saving households, touching off a consumption boom, which has been reinforced by rapid credit expansion. In 2005, this boom helped to offset the...

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic developments in Lebanon in 2006 were significantly affected by the July–August conflict with Israel. Real GDP is estimated to have been flat, with strong growth in the first half of the year offset by the disruptions during and after...

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economic expansion of Mexico has continued albeit slowed by developments in the United States. Despite some pickup in the second and third quarter, growth is projected to be close to 3 percent for 2007 as a whole. Fiscal policy is on track to...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that real GDP growth in Grenada, on average, has been low over the last five years compared with growth of nearly 6 percent a year in the late-1990s. Inflation has remained low and stable within the framework of the currency board arrangement. The...

The staff report for the 2005 Article IV Consultation on the Republic of Latvia highlights the economic outlook and mid-term risks. A sound policy framework and far-reaching structural reforms supported this performance, including a prudent fiscal policy that underpinned the exchange rate peg....

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that New Zealand’s GDP growth was particularly strong in 2004, at 4.8 percent, led by a surge in domestic demand. Private consumption grew by 6 percent, reflecting high employment growth, strong commodity prices, and household borrowing against...

How to entrench hard-won gains, increase resilience to shocks, and improve growth performance to reduce poverty? As Central America moves forward in regaining macroeconomic stability, these are the challenges. This study analyzes Central America’s real, fiscal, monetary, and financial sector...

This study identifies the key characteristics of a successful exchange rate system. It focuses on regimes in the industrial countries and consider the implications for the operation of the international monetary system

On the eve of the global financial crisis, the Turkish economy had just concluded a six-year growth surge, spurred by policy reforms and favorable external and domestic conditions. Turkish GDP was hit hard by the onset of the global financial crisis, but quickly retraced its losses. The...

The staff report for the 2006 Article IV Consultation on St. Vincent and the Grenadines highlights economic prospects and the fiscal situation. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a small, open economy that has increasingly relied on its tourism sector. The export-oriented services sector accounts...