This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that Iraq’s economic growth has been slower than expected at the time of the last Article IV Consultation, mainly because the expected expansion of oil production has not materialized. Following a decline in oil production and real GDP in 2005,...

Bosnia and Herzegovina has enjoyed rapid growth and price stability in recent years, but stronger policy ownership, improved policy coordination, and meaningful progress in structural reform are needed to provide the basis for sustained, private sector-led growth. Ensuring the sustainability of...

Norway’s near-term macroeconomic priority is to reduce risks arising from high-household debt by tightening macroprudential standards for mortgage lending while undertaking tax reforms to gradually reduce incentives for excessive leverage. Creating a stronger institutional framework for...

This paper focuses on a detailed assessment of observance of the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) core principles for systemically important payment systems in Thailand. This assessment covers the Bank of Thailand Automated High-Value Transfer Network (BAHTNET), which is a...

This paper presents the staff report on the Republic of Mozambique’s Third Review under the policy support instrument. Mozambique is vulnerable to the global financial crisis and economic slowdown. Lower import prices will help reduce inflation and likely benefit the trade balance. Lower...

The staff report for The Bahamas’s 2009 Article IV Consultation examines economic developments and policies. The financial sector, including the offshore sector, accounts for about 20 percent of economic activity. Exchange controls are maintained on capital transactions, narrowing the...

The Article IV Consultation with the Kingdom of Swaziland discusses efforts to broaden the tax base and improve tax administration, in particular through the introduction of a value-added tax and the establishment of a Revenue Authority. The depreciation of the nominal exchange rate along with...

The capacity of the Saudi Arabian banking sector to respond to macroeconomic shocks has been considerably strengthened over the past decade. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA ) has been actively monitoring some emerging portfolio trends. Comprehensive reforms are under way to deepen...

Economic stability of the Philippines was discussed in this report. Private investment remained low by regional standards, but there are tentative signs of a revival. These developments and favorable global conditions led to a surge in foreign exchange inflows and the external value of the peso....