Staff Discussion Notes showcase the latest policy-related analysis and research being developed by individual IMF staff and are published to elicit comment and to further debate. These papers are generally brief and written in nontechnical language, and so are aimed at a broad audience...

This paper assesses the distributional impact of the recent VAT reform in the Philippines and evaluates alternative methods to mitigate the effects of the reform on poor households. The reform was progressive and relatively well targeted. To alleviate the impact of the reform on the poor,...

The Madagascar Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) includes detailed description of poverty developments and the profile of the poor. The diagnostic section shows that the rural poor largely depend on agriculture, especially the production of rice. The IMF staff especially commends the PRSP...

The paper presents a Joint Staff Assessment (JSA) of the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP) Progress Report for Pakistan. The JSA identified some important gaps in the poverty reduction strategy for Pakistan. These include a detailed rural development strategy; a more focused...

The paper presents key findings of the Joint Staff Assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for Sri Lanka. Despite the country’s substantial achievements in human development and the economy’s external openness, several factors have impeded Sri Lanka’s...

The objective of this paper is to present some early experiences of poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA) from the PRGF-supported programs in the African Department. The paper illustrates that many staff country reports have taken a first step toward PSIA by making more explicit the links...

This paper aims to inform on the status of Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) in IMF-supported programs, detailing the results presented in the recent review of PRGF-supported programs. The review showed that more needs to be done, both in undertaking PSIA when necessary, and in reporting...

This paper reviews some early interim and full PRSPs for countries with which the authors worked during 1999-2000 (Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mali and The Gambia). The purpose of the review is to compare and contrast how the PRSP process was established there. It finds that...

This paper provides a brief and selective overview of research on the links between macroeconomic policies and poverty reduction. Using the Human Development Index as a measure of well-being, the progress made by 100 countries during 1975–98 is presented, and its association with macroeconomic...