This paper analyzes the historical and current energy booms of Trinidad and Tobago, and points out the main policy issues during boom times. It provides practical suggestions on the long-term management of the expected resource windfall in Trinidad and Tobago, and outlines theoretical guidelines...

This paper reviews the Interim Staff Report Under Intensified Surveillance for Jamaica. Following the adverse economic impact of Hurricane Ivan, the outlook for FY 2005/06 is for a rebound in growth in the context of broad macroeconomic stability. Real GDP growth slowed, and damage to...

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix summarizes the factors explaining Vanuatu’s recent growth performance, which has weakened since the mid-1990s. The paper highlights that Vanuatu’s annual rate of growth averaged ¾ percent during 1997–2001, compared with...

This paper discusses the first Report on Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) for Italy. IMF staff reviewed developments in Italy's observance of fiscal transparency practices, with a view to updating changes in current practices, reviewing progress in implementing the initial ROSC's...

This paper presents key findings of the Ex Post Assessment of Longer-Term Program Engagement for Bolivia. Bolivia is a country that is perceived as having one of the best structural reform records in Latin America but experienced sluggish per capita growth, and made virtually no progress in...

This Selected Issues paper seeks to determine the macroeconomic effects of credit growth in Latvia. To do so, the paper relies on two approaches. First, a vector autoregressive system consisting of domestic credit, real activity, inflation, and the current account is used to determine responses...

Executive Directors commend the government for their achievements in macroeconomic stabilization. Continuing growth, low inflation, and stability in the foreign exchange market provide a solid foundation for the new program. Renewed effort to strengthen tax administration is required. Success in...

This paper examines Zambia’s progress under the Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries. Zambia has met all but three of the completion point conditions, as specified in the decision point document. It made satisfactory progress in implementing and monitoring its Poverty...

This paper reviews key findings of Belarus’s Financial System Stability Assessment, including Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Banking Supervision, Payment Systems, and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. Although significant progress has...

This paper discusses Colombia’s 2005 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), and Requests for Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria. Real economic growth in Colombia recovered to 4 percent a year in 2003–04. The national unemployment...