The 2012 Article IV Consultation discusses the economic outlook for Kuwait for 2012, which is broadly positive. Economic recovery is expected to strengthen, led by high government expenditure—particularly wages and capital expenditure. High fiscal and external surpluses are expected to...

In this study, macroeconomic development, its performance, and outlook are reviewed. Narrowing of the infrastructure gap and public financial management (PFM) are focused to safeguard investment quality. Fiscal reform has been introduced to improve the design of the tax system and to strengthen...

The paper aims to identify the optimal size, speed and composition of the medium-term fiscal adjustment in the context of Sudan's limited oil reserves. The permanently sustainable non-oil primary balance approach suggests the need for significant fiscal adjustment over the medium term, requiring...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic activity in Grenada is slowing significantly, reflecting the drag of the global crisis on tourism receipts, foreign direct investment, and remittances. Commercial banks have remained resilient, but the intervention of the Trinidad and...

This paper discusses findings of the Fourth Review Under the Policy Support Instrument and findings of the Second Review Under the Exogenous Shocks Facility for Senegal. All quantitative assessment (performance) criteria were met, notably the targets for the fiscal deficit and the budgetary...

This paper presents key findings of the Third Review under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) for Senegal. The budgetary slippages, which had seriously affected the economy and put Senegal’s PSI-supported program at risk, have been successfully addressed. In line with program...

The Czech Republic has embarked on an ambitious tax reform and expenditure package to bring the deficit sustainably below 3 percent, and intends to reduce the deficit to 1 percent of GDP by 2012. To address the long-term fiscal challenge due to population aging, pension reform proposals are also...

This paper looks at the role Sovereign Wealth Funds have played in the Pacific Island Countries in achieving key macro-fiscal policy objectives, namely, protecting the budget from high revenue volatility and strengthening fiscal prospects. Evidence shows that the funds' effectiveness has been...

This report reviews the Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance (EPCA) given to Lebanon after the conflict with Israel in 2006. The five-week conflict with Israel in 2006 and the month-long blockade that followed inflicted a heavy human and economic toll on Lebanon. EPCA would provide an appropriate...

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Poverty Reduction Strategy paper reports that significant progress has been made since the late 1990s in building both a market economy and a single economic space. GDP growth has slowed recently following the post-conflict bounce, and the current account deficit...