This paper discusses key findings of the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) and Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) on Banking Supervision, Securities Regulation, Insurance Supervision and Regulation, and Securities Settlement Systems for Belgium. The assessment...

This paper examines the First Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement for Colombia. Under the authorities’ program, economic performance has been mostly favorable. Real economic growth appears to be recovering, led by a pickup in domestic demand that outweighed a decline in net exports....

This paper discusses a Detailed Assessment of the Observance of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Transparency in Monetary and Financial Policies (MFPT Code)—Banking Supervision for Italy. Banca d’Italia (BI) notes the assessment’s recognition of the very high degree of...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation highlights that Benin’s economic performance over 2001–03 was strong. Real GDP growth averaged 5.3 percent, driven by growth in the cotton and services sectors. Inflation was low, averaging 2.6 percent per year. The external current deficit...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.

This paper reviews economic developments in St. Lucia during 1990–95. During 1991–92, economic growth slowed to an average of 5 percent (from 9 percent achieved in the late 1980s) as banana production stagnated, and in spite of strong growth of construction and tourism. In...

This Selected Issues paper describes the recent economic developments in The Gambia. The paper highlights that the economic performance of The Gambia deteriorated sharply in 2002, as sparse rainfall led to a decline of one-third in agricultural output. Real GDP shrank by 3 percent. However,...

This paper evaluates Niger’s 2001 Article IV Consultation, the Second Review and Second Annual Program Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) Arrangement, and a Request for Additional Interim Assistance Under the Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.

This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix on Senegal examines the magnitude, quality, and composition of fiscal adjustment, and the sustainability of public debt in the context of a debt dynamics framework. The paper explains the rationale for fiscal adjustment and presents some...