This paper describes economic developments in the Central African Republic during 1990–97. After four years of decline, the real gross domestic product of the Central African Republic (GDP at market prices) recovered in 1994 at the estimated rate of 7.7 percent. This primarily reflected...

This Selected Issues paper examines recent economic developments and economic growth in Costa Rica. The paper highlights that real GDP growth of Costa Rica slowed to 1.7 percent, from more than 8 percent a year in 1998–99, reflecting in part deterioration in the terms of trade, the end of...

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 evaluates Pakistan’s Financial System Stability Assessment, including Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Monetary and Financial Policy Transparency, Banking Supervision, and Securities Regulation. Major reforms in the financial sector have resulted in a more...

This Selected Issues paper on Germany reviews investment trends and business capital stock in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Sharp wage increases are found to boost capital formation in the short term as employers substitute capital for labor at a...

This paper reviews economic developments on Burkina Faso during 1994–98. Real GDP growth increased sharply following the 1994 CFA franc devaluation from an average of 0.8 percent in 1992–93 to an average of 4.2 percent in 1994–97. As a result, the decline in real terms of...

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 on the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) reviews the evolution of actual and equilibrium real effective exchange rates (REER). The current level of the CEMAC REER is broadly in line with its long-term equilibrium value. The estimation approach...

This paper reviews the Maldives’s Use of IMF Resources and Request for Emergency Assistance. The authorities have requested a purchase of an amount equivalent to SDR 4.1 million (50 percent of quota) under the IMF’s policy on emergency assistance related to natural disasters. The...

Argentina’s First Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and a Request for Waiver of Nonobservance and Applicability of Performance Criteria are reviewed. Favorable conditions allowed a further strengthening of the external position, though external arrears continued to increase. Congress...