In the past several years, the ten new Central and Eastern European members of the European Union have enjoyed rapid growth but frequently alongside growing external imbalances. Economists have pointed to rising vulnerabilities, but markets compressed sovereign bond yields. This paper examines...

This paper reviews some of the major strands of the debate on growth-oriented adjustment programmes. Section I looks at recent domestic and external trends in developing countries in order to highlight the motivation for increased emphasis on growth with adjustment. Section II discusses general...

This paper examines the linkage between economic developments in industrial economies and the economic performance of six Asian countries. A simple model is constructed to investigate these links, with particular emphasis on developments in the Asian countries' external positions and their...

The significant increase in exchange rate variability over the last several years has made it necessary for all countries, regardless of their exchange rate policies, to consider the effect of multilateral exchange rate changes on their balance of payments. This study presents an attempt to...

Countries differed in their adjustment to the commodity price shocks of the 1970s. In some countries there was little wage adjustment, so that the brunt of the terms-of-trade loss was borne by profits; in others greater wage adjustment allowed the term-of-trade loss to be distributed more evenly...

Before the movement toward a generalized system of floating exchange rates, it was hoped that flexible rates would permit countries to pursue independent monetary policies. Experience with the system has led both policymakers and theoreticians to recognize the high degree of monetary...

Managing Capital Flows provides analyses designed to help policymakers develop a framework for managing capital flows that is consistent with prudent macroeconomic and financial sector stability.

This paper explores the experience of six countries (Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Mexico, Spain and Thailand) with capital inflows. It illustrates that although capital inflows are usually beneficial, too great an inflow can become a problem and make it difficult for authorities to choose the...

This paper is Part I of a two-volume study conducted as a part of the IMF's ongoing process of evaluating its lending facilities. It focuses on IMF-supported programs and macroeconomic performance during 1988-92, reflecting information available through the end of 1993. Part I provides an...

This paper is part II of a two-volume study conducted as a part of the IMF's ongoing process of evaluating its lending facilities. It focuses on IMF-supported programs and macroeconomic performance during 1988-92, reflecting information available through the end of 1993. Part I (Occasional Paper...