Upon entry into the European Union, countries become members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), with a derogation from adopting the euro as their currency (that is, each country joining the EU commits to replace its national currency with the euro, but can choose when to request...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic growth in South Africa slowed in 2003 to 1.9 percent, from 3.6 percent in 2002, despite strong domestic demand. Fuelled by low interest rates, a more expansionary fiscal stance, and the wealth effects from strong commodity and property...

The staff report for the Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility highlights Benin’s economic developments and progress in structural reforms. Benin experienced a decade of good economic performance, but poverty reduction remains a concern....

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economic recovery in Mexico that began in mid-2003 has continued in 2005, though at a slower pace. A broad-based expansion of economic activity in 2004, driven by a rebound of private consumption and private investment, took growth up to 4.4...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that real GDP for St. Vincent and the Grenadines grew by a modest ¼ percent in 2001, well below the 4 percent average for the previous three years. Preliminary estimates for 2002 indicate about a pickup in real GDP growth to about 1 percent owing...

This paper on the First Review Under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) on Djibouti explains macroeconomic framework and policies. The policy discussions centered on the need to sustain the improvement in the country’s fiscal position in the remainder of the year and steadfast structural...

The public sector in Peru is clearly distinguished from the rest of the economy, but the existence of various legal and statistical definitions of the government makes it difficult to demarcate it clearly from the rest of the public sector. The recent constitutional reform has strengthened the...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that recent accession to the European Union and gains in growth performance reinforced the Czech Republic’s position as one of the most open and developed economies among the new member states. Thanks to substantial foreign direct investment,...

This 2002 Article IV Consultation highlights that after growing by an average 3 percent a year in 1998–99, output for St. Lucia stagnated in 2000, and fell by an estimated 5¼ percent in 2001. This reflected a severe drought in 2001, as well as lower tourism activity owing to the global...

This report on the Russian Federation’s Observance of Standards and Codes reports on the fiscal transparency module. Russia has achieved considerable progress in fiscal transparency and financial management since 1999, although a number of important reforms remain to be undertaken. The...