The Mauritian economy showed strong performance owing to its sound macroeconomic policies. Executive Directors emphasized the need to remain competitive and address the growing unemployment problem. They commended the efforts to support the developments in financial services, free port...

Spain showed strong growth performance marked by robust job creation and a solid fiscal position. Executive Directors supported the National Reform Program (NRP), which focuses on improving productivity, market flexibility, and competitiveness. They commended the appreciable fiscal surplus,...

China’s transformation into a dynamic private-sector-led economy and its integration into the world economy have been among the most dramatic global economic developments of recent decades. This paper provides an overview of some of the key aspects of recent developments in China’s...

With a modest recovery in the global economy underway, and amid rising concerns about the sharp increase in government debt in several countries, debate has increasingly focused on the need to identify and implement fiscal exit strategies. This paper reviews the medium-term plans of 25 countries...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that Namibia’s real GDP growth accelerated to an estimated 4¼ percent in 2004, after averaging about 3 percent during the preceding five years. Growth benefited from declining interest rates, as the Bank of Namibia took advantage of...

This paper discusses Sierra Leone’s Request for a Three-Year Arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Sierra Leone has made considerable progress during the last PRGF-supported program toward macroeconomic stability. Macroeconomic performance was generally...

This paper presents Portugal’s third review under the extended arrangement and request for waiver of applicability of end-March performance criteria. The government has initiated labor market reforms, privatizations, telecom sector liberalization, and improved competition framework....

This 2003 Article IV Consultation highlights that Canada’s strong policy framework has brought impressive economic results, and the Canadian economy has proven exceptionally resilient in the face of the recent global downturn. Economic activity slowed relatively modestly in 2001, with...

Djibouti’s 2007 Article IV Consultation focuses on the medium-term growth prospects and policies necessary to ensure that growth is broad based and accompanied by sufficient employment creation. Real GDP growth is estimated at 4.8 percent in 2006, driven by fiscal expansion, and a sizable...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation for Panama reports that the medium-term outlook is encouraging, assuming implementation of the authorities’ fiscal program, which should put the public debt ratio on a steadily declining path. The banking system experienced a substantial recovery in...