This assessment of the current state of Australia’s implementation of the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision has been completed as part of a Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) undertaken in December 2005 by the International Monetary Fund. The assessment team...

In recent years, Colombia has found several innovative ways to improve the efficiency of its public enterprise sector. One option used by Colombia to reform public enterprises has been to enhance their commercial orientation and limit the fiscal risk. If a public enterprise is considered...

Albania was among the first countries to participate in the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS), posting its metadata on the Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board. Its metadata have been used as a model by other countries participating in the GDDS. Recommendations to increase further...

This paper provides evidence that globalization has dampened inflation in Poland in the last ten years. A broad-based statistical and econometric analysis of financial and household balance sheet data implies that exchange rate-related credit risk and liquidity risk are currently contained....

Panama has a well-developed macroeconomic statistical system, and the government recognizes the importance of good statistics for policy and investment decisions. All statistical agencies are committed to further statistical progress by promoting implementation of the National Strategy for...

Comoros faces significant economic and political challenges. The fiscal priorities are to restore revenues and curtail spending so that domestic arrears can be reduced and the program brought back on track. Clearing external arrears is a key hurdle to debt sustainability. Improvements to the...

This note is on Korea’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, the prospects and challenges ahead, and the development of its financial sector. Assessment of recent government initiatives to develop capital markets has been presented. The note discusses restrictions on Chaebol ownership of...

The principal policy task in Hungary is to place public finances on a sound footing. For monetary policy, the challenge is to identify one-off inflationary influences, communicate these to the public and financial markets, and deal with second-round effects. From a risk-management perspective, a...

Important progress can be seen in the economic and policy environment in Portugal, but challenges remain. Firm implementation of strategy is essential to meet these challenges. It will be essential that expenditure measures move to the forefront, realizing the planned shift away from...

Senegal achieved robust economic growth and low inflation under the economic program. Executive Directors emphasized the need to correct slippages in fiscal governance and transparency to ensure budgetary discipline and strengthen procurement rules and practices. They appreciated the action plan...