This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that the banking system of the Russian Federation is under increasing strain, and private sector credit is contracting. The authorities’ response to the crisis has been swift and substantial, driven by concerns that weaknesses in the banking...

This paper discusses key findings of the First Review for Seychelles under the Stand-By Arrangement. Developments under the program at end-December 2008 were broadly satisfactory. Although growth was lower and inflation higher than targeted in 2008, the liberalization of the exchange regime and...

This paper presents key findings of the Fourth Review for the Gambia under the three-year arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). The Gambia remains at high risk of debt distress. Overall performance under the PRGF-supported program has been satisfactory, but downside...

This paper presents Burkina Faso’s third review under the Three-Year Arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. Favorable weather augurs well for a rebound in agricultural production, but real GDP growth is expected to remain below trend in the near term. A good harvest...

Three years of broad-based economic recovery in Kenya brought GDP growth to nearly 6 percent in 2005/06, its highest in two decades. This 2006 Article IV Consultation focuses on how to sustain Kenya’s recent strong economic growth. It argues that this would require accelerating structural...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that inflation and the current account deficit in Slovenia are expected to moderate. The main downward risks to growth are lower-than-projected growth in Europe, and a credit crunch in the event that foreign financing of domestic banks dries up. In...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that after 15 years of impressive growth led by a housing boom, the Spanish economy has entered a sharp downturn in the wake of the global liquidity squeeze since mid-2007. Executive Directors have commended the authorities for their timely and...

This paper discusses key findings of the Review Under the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) Arrangement for Poland. The authorities have taken measures to mitigate the economic slowdown and maintain macroeconomic stability. With subdued inflation, monetary policy has been accommodative during the first...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that Poland’s rapid growth had begun to lose steam even before the global crisis hit. Following robust and relatively well-balanced expansion, driven by an EU accession-related investment boom and rapid credit and wage growth, economic activity...

This paper discusses the progress made by Burundi under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Burundi has made satisfactory progress in achieving the completion point triggers. It has fully implemented the triggers on preparing and implementing a Poverty Reduction...