This 2001 Article IV Consultation highlights that since early 2001, domestic demand growth has recovered in New Zealand and contributed to sustain GDP growth in the wake of weaker net exports, owing to the economic slowdown in the rest of the world. The sharp rise in economic activity pushed the...

Vietnam's macroeconomic performance has been strong, fueled by strong export performance, poverty reduction, and domestic investment. Executive Directors welcomed this development, and stressed the need for strong monetary, exchange rate, and fiscal policies. They appreciated the prudent...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that Zimbabwe’s real GDP declined by 9.3 percent in 2003, and an additional broad-based decline is projected in 2004. Year-over-year inflation reached 600 percent during November 2003–February 2004. However, monthly inflation, which had...

This Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) on the Data Module on El Salvador reviews summary assessment of data quality. Dissemination of data subject to the IMF’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) is in observance of all SDDS specifications, including data...

This paper examines the progress report on Azerbaijan Republic’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. The share of the production and non-oil sector in GDP has increased. The shares of industry, construction, wholesale, and retail and service sectors increased, while the shares of...

This paper highlights key finding of the assessment of financial sector regulation and supervision in Belize. The assessment reveals that banking supervision in Belize complies with or is largely compliant with most of the Basel Core Principles. Under current arrangements, the Minister retains a...

This paper evaluates the 2003 Article IV Consultation and a Request for a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM). The Article IV policy discussions focused on regaining a sustainable fiscal and external position, restarting economic growth and job...

The Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report on Benin highlights the progress in implementing the strategy. As evaluated by Benin’s first annual progress report (APR), the PRS remains a sound strategy for poverty reduction in Benin....

This Selected Issues paper highlights that the authorities in the Republic of Korea recognize the pension policy challenges ahead, and a first wave of reforms has already been launched. Despite the reforms to date, much remains to be done. Without further reforms, the public pension systems in...

This report examines Sudan’s Final Review of the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for 2003 and 2004. Policy performance was in line with the program. All quantitative targets, except for that on contracting nonconcessional external debt, were met, and most structural benchmarks were...