This paper reviews the flaws of the Italian tax system during the 1990s and the rationale for reform. The paper highlights that a fundamental reform of the tax system took place in 1971–73, and introduced three main innovations: the concentration of tax authority almost exclusively at the...

This paper describes economic developments in the Kyrgyz Republic during the 1990s. The cash fiscal deficit increased from 7.7 percent of GDP in 1994 to 12.5 percent of GDP in 1995. The authorities encountered difficulties in raising revenues early in the year, but with the implementation of...

This report describes economic developments in the Solomon Islands during the 1990s. Developments in the real sector were dominated by a broad-based export boom, which stemmed, in large part, from a continuing increase in the rate of extraction of forestry resources. Although economic growth was...

This paper assesses Azerbaijan’s 2001 Article IV Consultation, First Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and Request for Waiver of Performance Criteria. Economic and financial performance was satisfactory, and all quantitative performance criteria were met....

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.

The report describes the participatory process and its impact, and analyzes its shortcomings. Mauritania's progress report provides a candid review and analysis of the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Becasue poverty remains primarily a rural phenomenon in...

This paper reviews economic developments in the Marshall Islands during 1996–98. Real GDP declined by 15.2 percent and 5.3 percent in FY1996 and FY1997, respectively, reflecting mainly the effects of the adjustment measures implemented by the government since 1996 under the Policy Reform...

This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that Belgium’s growth has picked up following weakness in early 2005, mainly reflecting a negative contribution from the external sector and weak household consumption owing to high energy prices. The authorities and the IMF staff project GDP...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the macroeconomic impact of workers’ remittances on Moldova. The paper focuses on Moldova’s labor emigration since the late-1990s using survey data designed to shed light on the economic and social consequences of migration. The survey results...

This Background Paper on the United States examines the effect of fiscal deficit reduction in the context of the IMF’s multicountry simulation model, on the current account and the real exchange rate. The simulations suggest that, other things being equal, fiscal consolidation will tend...