This Selected Issues paper on Algeria reports that the authorities have relied on an expansionary fiscal stance to stimulate growth and employment, but structural reforms have virtually stalled. Although the economy has recorded increasing growth, the nonhydrocarbon sector remains small and...

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 the Republic of Kazakhstan during 1993–97. During 1993–94, price liberalization was virtually completed, most of the restrictions on foreign trade were eliminated, and a new currency with a unified rate was introduced. At the same time,...

This paper reviews economic developments in the Republic of Mozambique during 1990–96. Under the Economic and Social Rehabilitation Program (ESRP), the economy has made impressive economic gains. Real GDP growth averaged 6.7 percent in 1987–95, despite the civil war, a decline in...

This paper examines Moldova’s Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (EGPRSP) covering 2004–06. The EGPRSP has the potential to become an effective tool for continuous strategic planning, and for providing for the prioritization of strategic objectives and the...

The civil war in Liberia has resulted in the destruction of most of its infrastructure. Executive Directors noted the weak revenue performance, the lack of progress on fiscal transparency and accountability, and the poor control and prioritization of government spending. They emphasized the need...

The paper discusses potential output, the output gap, and inflation in Korea. The paper explores the information content of potential leading indicators of inflation. A broadly balanced current account has been the suggested norm for Korea over the medium term. The challenge is to help build a...

This Background Paper examines issues in Uganda’s financial sector reform. In Uganda, reforms in the financial sector have included the liberalization of interest rates, the development of instruments of indirect monetary control, the modernization of banking legislation, the...

This paper presents an update to Hungary’s Financial System Stability Assessment, including a Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Insurance Regulation. The assessment reveals that financial intermediation in Hungary has continued to deepen. The expansion of bank lending at...

This Selected Issues paper on Haiti examines the observed reduction in outstanding real bank credit to the private sector. It examines the evolution of credit and real GDP growth and uses demand and supply indicators to characterize the reduction in credit allocation to the private sector. The...