Though many aspects of Russia's fiscal policy framework are close to best practice on paper, actual practice in recent years has been moving away from best practice. In particular, the continued focus on the overall rather than the nonoil balance, and the regular use of supplemental budgets to...

Papua New Guinea has seen solid economic growth over the past decade, supported by sound macroeconomic policies. This 2012 Article IV Consultation discusses that the financial sector in Papua New Guinea remains profitable and well capitalized, but vulnerabilities have increased. Executive...

The Nigerian economy remained strong, with a non-oil real GDP of 8.3 percent and an overall real GDP of 6.7 percent. A modest fiscal consolidation took place in 2011 as a response to the substantial monetary tightening by the Central Bank of Nigeria and moderation of food prices. Banks showed...

This paper analyzes the impact of the global crisis on six South-Eastern European countries. The main objective is to compare macro-financial conditions and policies in the run-up to the crisis as well as to compare the policy responses to it, so as to highlight, inter alia, possible...

The cornerstone of Chile’s impressive fiscal performance has been its structural balance rule. By insulating public spending from short-term copper price fluctuations and the business cycle, the rule has helped preserve fiscal discipline. However, the implementation of the rule in recent...

The Executive Board of the IMF has completed the fifth review of Greece’s economic performance under a program supported by a three-year Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for the country. The completion of the review enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR1.9 billion,...

In this study, economic growth and development of Nigeria after the crisis is discussed. Nigeria’s economy is projected to grow by 7 percent in 2011. Near-term risks to growth mostly relate to domestic factors. Nigeria’s strong external position and low debt helped mitigate the...

Papua New Guinea showed solid economic growth, supported by greater political stability, fiscal framework, and a healthy banking sector. Executive Directors encouraged the authorities to consider tighter macroeconomic policies in the face of rising inflation pressures and also stressed the need...