This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix reviews developments in the structure of the Israeli banking sector, as well as in the key indicators of soundness and profitability in recent years. The paper highlights that Israel’s financial system continues to be dominated by a small...

Recent developments and reforms in the Russian payments system are discussed from the perspective of their impact on monetary policy. The large and highly variable payment float in the balance sheet of the Central Bank of Russia has complicated the conduct of monetary policy. However, reforms in...

This paper describes economic developments in the Central African Republic during 1990–97. After four years of decline, the real gross domestic product of the Central African Republic (GDP at market prices) recovered in 1994 at the estimated rate of 7.7 percent. This primarily reflected the...

This paper reviews economic developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 1990–95. It describes the monetary arrangements that have evolved in the Federation and Republika Srpska, and summarizes the financial developments. The paper provides an overview of balance-of-payments developments and...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country

This paper describes economic developments in Bhutan during the 1990s. The paper discusses the fiscal outcome in 1993/94 (July–June) and the main elements of the authorities’ budget proposals for 1994/95. It assesses monetary and credit developments, as well as the major initiatives adopted...

The Burundian government has requested a modification of the zero limit on nonconcessional external debt in the country’s arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). It has sought to increase the grant element of the financing for the hydroelectric plant. Executive Directors support...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix analyzes poverty and social development in Uganda. The paper reviews recent poverty and inequality trends, examines how poor people are coping with risk and vulnerability, analyzes the relationship between economic growth, structural reform and...

This Selected Issues paper highlights that cautious monetary and fiscal polices of South Africa during 1997 resulted in a return of financial investor confidence and capital inflows during 1997 and through April 1998. These policies helped the South African economy emerge successfully from the...

This paper examines the recent evolution of exchange rate policies inthe developing world. It looks at why so many countries have made a transition from fixed or ""pegged"" exchange rates to ""managed floating""currencies. It discusses how economies perform under different exchangerate...