Since the bursting of China's real-estate bubble in mid-2021, there has been a growing concern that the Chinese economy could end up like that of Japan in the early 1990s. Some structural patterns are strikingly similar: low private consumption over a long period, especially when compared to the...

Thailand's economic performance remained mixed in March with stable private consumption and robust exports offset by weak private investment amid rising uncertainty. While fiscal stimulus supported consumption, softening consumer confidence and weak manufacturing production pose risks to the...

In 2024, Libya's economic performance reflects the persistent challenges of hydrocarbon dependency compared against nascent signs of broader recovery. The economy recorded a contraction of 0.6 percent for the year, driven primarily by a decline in oil GDP of 6 percent amid political and...

The global economic context improved modestly in 2024, supported by easing inflation and a rebound in global trade. Kenya's economy has slowed despite several improving macroeconomic indicators. The external sector showed improvement, driven by recovering exports and rising financial inflows. A...

Mongolia's economy is projected to grow by 6.3 percent in 2025, driven by a surge in copper production and a gradual recovery in the agriculture sector. While the medium-term growth outlook remains stable, significant risks and challenges remain, including the indirect effects of global trade...

Lebanon's economic outlook for 2025 is shaped by a fragile stabilization in the political and security environment. This follows the end of the conflict and the resolution of a two year political paralysis with the election of a president and the formation of a reform-oriented government. While...

The Yemen Economic Monitor provides an update on key economic developments and policies over the past six months. It also presents findings from recent World Bank work on Yemen. While domestic tensions persist, with the Houthi movement continuing to blockade the Internationally Recognized...

This special focus chapter analyzes the effectiveness of fiscal policy in fostering economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. In doing so, the principal focus of the chapter is on fiscal multipliers, which measure the effect of changes in government spending or revenue on the...