This 2006 Article IV Consultation highlights that with high oil prices and a significant policy stimulus, the Iranian economy continued to grow strongly in 2005–06. Real GDP growth is estimated at 5½ percent. Oil GDP growth was modest owing to capacity constraints, while non-oil GDP...

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s 2008 Article IV Consultation underlies that the economy is showing signs of overheating owing to high oil prices and a significant policy stimulus. IMF policy advice has focused on measures to reduce inflation and structural reforms aimed at stimulating...

This paper presents the primary institutions and economic policies that have led to Chile’s remarkable record of stability and growth over the past twenty years. The core of this policy stance is the combination of fiscal discipline and an open trade policy regime, together with carefully...

Executive Directors commended Sudan's efforts to bring economic policies back on track and welcomed the establishment of a mechanism to save oil export receipts arising from higher-than-programmed oil prices, but underscored the need to strengthen budget control and monitoring systems. The audit...

This 2003 Article IV Consultation highlights that Mexico’s real GDP remained subdued in the first half of 2003, with growth of 1.4 percent in the four quarters ending in the second quarter. While recent indicators of activity have been mixed, most observers still expect the economy to...

Kuwait’s 2005 Article IV Consultation reports that the economic and financial positions are projected to remain strong mainly on the expectation that world oil prices will decline only gradually. Reflecting sharply higher oil prices and production, economic conditions improved...

This paper examines whether the real exchange rates of commodity-exporting countries and the real prices of their commodity exports move together over time. Using IMF data on the world prices of 44 commodities and national commodity export shares, we construct new monthly indices of national...

This paper reviews the evolution of competitiveness in the CFA franc zone using a proposed comprehensive competitiveness framework. In particular, we examine competitiveness in the WAEMU and CEMAC regions by analyzing the "environment" and "policy" components of competitiveness and their...

We examine the evolution of nontradable and tradable prices in the Indian economy over 1980-2002 and find widening differentials: the real exchange rate has been appreciating. This might seem unsurprising, since India's rapid per capita income growth suggests Balassa-Samuelson factors at play....

Mauritius showed slow economic growth owing to the deteriorating external economic environment, particularly of the sugar and textile sectors. Executive Directors urged the authorities to develop a comprehensive economic strategy that combines structural reform measures and policies geared...