Iran's economic performance in the last two decades has been very disappointing. This is highlighted by the fact that per capita GDP was 16 percent lower in 1998 than in 1979. However, the most important single reason for this poor performance was not any domestic economic policy, but the long...

As a companion piece to the Board paper on Structural Reforms and Macroeconomic Performance: Initial Considerations for the Fund, this paper presents a selection of case studies on the structural reform experiences of member countries. These papers update the Board on work since the Triennial...

Japan's dramatic transformation from economic success to economic stagnation offers important policy lessons to advanced countries everywhere that are struggling with stagnation. The term 'Japanization' is often used by economists to describe long-term stagnation and deflation. Symptoms include...

Contents: Preface -- 1. Introduction and overview / Dongchul Cho, Takatoshi Ito and Andrew Mason -- Part I Aging, industry maturation and Japanization -- 2. Japanization: is it spreading to the rest of the world? / Takatoshi Ito -- 3. GDP growth from the perspective of demographic change: will...