This paper assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of fiscal institutions in ten Southeastern European countries, using recent benchmarking methodologies developed by FAD. The assessment evaluates each country’s understanding of the scale of the fiscal adjustment challenge, its...

This technical assistance report on Iceland focuses on a new organic budget law (OBL). In designing a new OBL, it is important to preserve good features of Iceland’s current legal framework for budgeting. At the same time, any new OBL should address the key weaknesses in the Financial...

This paper analyzes past fiscal consolidation plans and their outcomes in France. It covers the early attempts at fiscal consolidation in the 1970s and the 1980s (Plan Barre and Virage de la Rigueur), the first episode of medium-term fiscal consolidation in 1994-97 ahead of joining the European...

This report discusses the Action Plan for Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms Based on PEFA Assessment for the Maldives. The purpose of the action plan is to help prioritize efforts in light of scarce resources. The recently completed Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA)...

This paper discusses key findings of the Third Review Under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Niger. Program implementation to date is satisfactory and all quantitative performance criteria at end-June 2009 were met. The revenue performance is strong and domestic arrears repayment higher...

This poverty reduction strategy paper on Nicaragua shows that the main obstacles to poverty reduction are related to culture, historical, and structural factors, as well as weak public policy. The lack of proper physical infrastructure, the weaknesses in the energy matrix, the flaws in the...

Fiscal Responsibility Laws (FRLs) appear to be more popular in middle-income countries than advanced countries, even though their success is limited. The reasons why few advanced countries have a FRL include: the existing legal framework for the budget system is adequate; supranational rules and...

The paper notes that the development of sound budgetary institutions in countries such as France, the U.K. and the U.S. has taken a very long time?200 years or more?and is still evolving. It discusses Douglass North's prediction?which is supported by available data?that institutional reform is...

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency practices in Serbia in relation to the requirements of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency. Serbia has made solid advances in fiscal transparency in recent years, but there are still some major shortcomings. This report...

This report provides a reassessment of fiscal transparency practices in Estonia in relation to the requirements of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency. It presents a description of practices prepared by IMF staff on the basis of discussions with the authorities and their...