This paper discusses key findings of the Sixth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for Albania. The macroeconomic performance of the Albanian economy has been good overall, with sustained growth and low inflation. Weak infrastructure and...

This paper reviews Albania’s 2004 Article IV Consultation, Fifth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), Request for Extension of the Arrangement, and Financing Assurances Review. The macroeconomic performance of the Albanian economy has been remarkable by both...

This paper examines Paraguay’s 2004 Article IV Consultation and Second Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Requests for Waiver and Modifications of Performance Criteria. Paraguay’s economy has stabilized in 2004, but growth remains modest. A late season drought depressed output of soy,...

This paper examines Zambia’s Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and a Request for Waiver and Modification of Performance Criteria (PC). Performance under the PRGF-supported program has been good, although there were delays...

This paper focuses on the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Guinea-Bissau. The SMP, which covers the period April–December 2005, is based on the budget for 2005. It aims at avoiding new domestic arrears through a cash-rationing system, at improving tax administration and expenditure...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that Guinea-Bissau’s economic performance has weakened substantially in recent years. Real GDP declined by 7 percent in 2002 and was flat in 2003. Structural reforms stalled after the war; the private sector remained incapacitated because of...

This paper analyzes the 2005 Article IV Consultation and First Review Under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for the Union of the Comoros. Economic growth remained lackluster in 2004 owing to a depressed world demand for vanilla and crop, and cattle diseases. Government revenue stagnated, while...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic performance in Ghana has improved since 2000, with the economy growing at its fastest pace in more than a decade. In 2004, real GDP growth reached 5.8 percent, driven by agriculture and a strong pickup in the services and construction...

Political instability and weak macroeconomic management have generated negative real per capita gross domestic product growth rates, contributing to widespread poverty and a worsening of social indicators. The challenge is to attain a higher rate of growth on a sustained basis and raise the...

Intermittent civil wars have largely destroyed Liberia's physical and economic structures and the government's capacity to devise and implement policies. Executive Directors expressed concern about the weak revenue performance, lack of progress on fiscal transparency, and accountability. They...