Sound policies and favorable external conditions have led to a strong economic recovery, but important challenges lie ahead. Uruguay’s near-term economic prospects are generally favorable. The main short-term challenge is rising inflation in the wake of vigorous growth and capital inflows. The...

The Zambian economy has performed well owing to its strong macroeconomic policies, high copper export prices, and extensive debt relief. Executive Directors encouraged the authorities to reduce poverty and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) under the Fifth National Development Plan...

This paper reviews the fiscal reform of the Czech Republic, its key reform measures, and structural implications. The study also focuses on key challenges and demographic pressures facing the Czech economy, and describes the analytical framework of Global Fiscal Model (GFM) with technical...

The Czech Republic’s strong fundamentals helped to sustain economic growth with low unemployment and underpin strides toward convergence with EU-15. Executive Directors welcomed the euro accession strategy and the sustained implementation of the Maastricht criteria, which would provide a solid...

Burundi showed commendable performance owing to its prudent macroeconomic policies and ambitious structural reforms under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Executive Directors appreciated its macroeconomic stability, strong fiscal discipline, and prudent monetary policies in...

The experts reviewed the institutional framework, the relevant Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws, regulations, guidelines, and other requirements, and the regulatory and other systems in place to deter money laundering (ML) and the financing of...

Improvements in macroeconomic conditions are encouraging, and the current macroeconomic framework for 2006 and 2007 remains valid in Paraguay. The strong fiscal performance has applied also to the rest of the public sector. The authorities have submitted a budget proposal for 2007 that preserves...

Macroeconomic performance of Armenia in 2007 has been strong, with double-digit growth and single-digit inflation for the sixth consecutive year. Fiscal policy in 2007 remains prudent, with the central government deficit limited to the programmed level of 1.8 percent of GDP. Monetary growth has...

Over the past two years, economic activity in Palau has been slowed. Executive Directors welcomed the authorities’ disciplined policies, strong financial sector legislation, and prudent management of foreign grants. They encouraged the authorities to build a strong fiscal consolidation and...

The first analysis focuses on external stability, an important issue in view of Croatia’s external imbalances and the requirements of the IMF’s 2007 Decision on Bilateral Surveillance. The paper shows that the real exchange rate is broadly in line with economic fundamentals and that external...