This paper examines key findings of Iceland’s Request for a Stand-By Arrangement from the IMF. Iceland’s economy is in the midst of a banking crisis of extraordinary proportions that is expected to lead to a deep recession, a sharp rise in the fiscal deficit, and a dramatic surge...

The Fourth Review Under the Extended Arrangement, Financing Assurances Review, and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria for Serbia and Montenegro are discussed. The agreed tighter fiscal, monetary, and incomes policies should cool off wage and credit growth, which are driving the demand...

Croatia has made important strides in restoring robust economic growth and achieving price stability while continuing to strengthen its net international reserves position under the Stand-By Arrangement. Executive Directors welcomed this development, and stressed the need to improve fiscal...

Croatia continues to enjoy economic growth, price stability, and rising international reserves under the Stand-By Arrangement. Executive Directors commended this and stressed the need for prudent macroeconomic policies, structural reforms, fiscal consolidation, and tight monetary policy. They...

This paper seeks to draw lessons from the IMF’s experience in handling financial crises around the globe over the past ten years that are relevant to the challenges faced by countries in Latin America, especially in the wake of the recent crisis in Argentina. Experience suggests that...

Until recently, Croatia's economic performance was the envy of many countries in transition: a successful stabilization effort in late 1993 was followed by virtual price stability and real GDP growth of 6 percent a year during 1994–97. Monetary tightening, the weak economy, and a...

Croatia achieved progress in restoring control over the public finances. Executive Directors welcomed the comprehensive economic program, with its focus on the fiscal deficit and tax reductions, wage discipline, and structural reforms in the context of a stable exchange rate. They stressed the...

The ex-post evaluation of Iceland’s Exceptional Access under the 2008 Stand-By Arrangement is presented. In the wake of the global financial crisis in late 2008, Iceland has experienced a deep financial and economic crisis of its own. Domestically, the rapid increase in lending fuelled...

Austrian banks have traditionally issued large volumes of Swiss franc-denominated loans. Although new issuance has virtually stopped since 2008, the outstanding volume (CHF 81 billion at mid-2012) will continue to pose a challenge to financial stability at least in the oming decade. This study...

The reform of financial supervision is seen as the key step to make the Eurozone and in the broader sense European Union less vulnerable to financial and economic crises. Many economists point, that the ultimate objective of such endeavours should be the establishment of the banking union. The...