This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that following an extended boom led by strong domestic demand, the slowdown in the United States has largely reflected a drag from residential investment as the housing market has weakened substantially. Unexpected weakness in business investment and...

This paper discusses the Republic of Mozambique’s 2007 Article IV Consultation and Sixth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). The post-conflict rebound has largely run its course, and first-generation reforms are completed; a second wave of reforms is needed to sustain...

Niger’s Fourth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and Request for Waiver and Modification of Performance Criteria are examined. Economic growth in 2006 has been satisfactory at 4.8 percent, owing to a good harvest for the second year in a row, and strong mining,...

The Euro Area Policies’ 2007 Article IV Consultation reports that the economy is poised for a sustained upswing because of cyclical considerations and policies, which have had a forward-looking cast. The area’s external position and the real effective exchange rate of the euro are within...

This 2006 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic growth of Greece has been strong for several years, underpinned by a rapid increase in private sector credit, following the liberalization of the financial sector and the sharp drop in interest rates. In 2006, real GDP rose by an...

This paper presents the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s decision point and debt sustainability analysis under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Protracted conflict and political instability have undermined Afghanistan’s socioeconomic development, resulting in...

This paper discusses the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Second Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. Political pressures on tax administration and the granting of concessions to some manufacturers through increased protection on final goods and lower duty rates on raw...

Hungary’s 2007 Article IV Consultation reports that with fiscal consolidation on track for 2007 and 2008, short-term risks have receded, especially owing to the favorable international financial environment. Ensuring that the current economic slowdown does not translate into a prolonged period...

This paper discusses key findings of the Fourth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) for Nepal. The PRGF-supported program is broadly on track. All quantitative performance criteria for the fourth review were met. A number of structural performance criteria and...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes the challenges that the Republic of Slovenia will face in the coming years. It examines the efficiency of the Slovene banking sector in the European Union context. The paper analyzes indicators of bank efficiency by comparing performance indicators for banks...