This paper examines Albania’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, First Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and Requests for Modification and Waiver of Performance Criterion. Economic growth appears to have fallen below a 7 percent...

This paper focuses on Peru’s Second Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). Progress was made on structural reforms, but key reforms remain to be implemented, including the completion of tax reform and implementation of a fiscally neutral decentralization. Both are crucial to fiscal...

Prudent macroeconomic policy, based on a balanced budget strategy and structural reforms, has successfully transformed Estonia into an open and flexible market economy and as a star performer among European Union accession countries. Executive Directors welcomed these developments and commended...

This paper assesses Ghana’s 2003 Article IV Consultation, and Requests for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and for Additional Interim Assistance Under the Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). Program implementation...

This paper examines the Kyrgyz Republic’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and a Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion. All performance criteria but one were observed for the period under review (April 1,...

The Kyrgyz Republic has made good progress under the three-year Poverty Reduction Growth Facility arrangement. Executive Directors welcomed the strong macroeconomic performance and low inflation. They appreciated the fiscal consolidation by containing expenditure growth and improving tax...

All quantitative and structural performance criteria for end-June 2003 were observed. These positive results reflect several factors, including improved public expenditure management and strengthened revenue administration (offsetting delays in some of this year's new revenue measures),...

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) showed commendable growth owing to its strong macroeconomic performance and structural reforms under the economic program. Executive Directors commended the fiscal performance, bank restructuring, and the private sector developments, and stressed the...

The ending of the civil war has brought to the fore the need to reconstruct the Angolan economy and address the problem of widespread poverty. A strong medium-term fiscal adjustment effort, including a reduction of the National Bank of Angola's operational deficit, is needed. The government...

Nepal’s public debt-to-GDP ratio is set to decline from 68 percent of GDP at end-2002–03 over the medium term. The 2003–04 budget makes a start in implementing the medium-term fiscal strategy. Government spending will be redirected to social sectors, for poverty alleviation,...