This staff report on United Kingdom’s (UK) 2013 Article IV Consultation highlights economic policies and development. The UK economy grew by about ¼ percent in 2012. Net trade reduced growth by 0.6 percentage points of GDP, the biggest drag since 2005, and well above staff projections....

The primary objective of the program was to prevent a crisis of confidence by signaling policy continuity and providing a liquidity buffer in case such shocks materialized. In addition, the program sought to preserve macroeconomic stability by focusing on sustaining fiscal prudence and financial...

In this study, owing to the global financial crisis, a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for the Dominican Republic was approved. The aim is to limit the procyclical policies in the short-term and discussions focused on policies necessary to ensure that the end-2011 and 2011 targets are observed....

This paper discusses key findings of the Stand-By Arrangement–Interim Review under the Emergency Financing Mechanism for the Republic of Latvia. Financial market pressures in Latvia have eased somewhat since program approval: deposit outflows have slowed and the exchange rate has moved...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that the Central African Republic has recorded the modest economic growth since the end of the internal conflict in 2003, recovering from decades of decline in living standards. Real GDP grew by 2½ percent a year on average during 2004–08....

The staff report for the 2007 Article IV Consultation on the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) explains economic performance. Growth is robust and increasingly reliant on large export-oriented mining and hydropower projects. The economic outlook is promising, but the outcome clearly...

Belgium’s impressive past fiscal consolidation is an example for other countries that need to bring down their public debt and also provides insights on how best to address its own current fiscal challenges. Belgium has a unique history of a long and successful large fiscal consolidation....

Papua New Guinea showed solid economic growth, supported by greater political stability, fiscal framework, and a healthy banking sector. Executive Directors encouraged the authorities to consider tighter macroeconomic policies in the face of rising inflation pressures and also stressed the need...

The floods in Pakistan are a natural disaster of massive proportions. The overall impact will critically depend on how the floods will affect agricultural output along the Indus and its tributaries. The Pakistani authorities request financial assistance under the IMF policy for Emergency Natural...

Dominica was struck by Hurricane Dean during August 16–17, 2007. A recent earthquake also underscores the vulnerability of the economy to natural disasters. Output growth slowed during the first half of 2007 as tourist arrivals stagnated across the region. Inflation was 3½ percent in...