This paper reviews Bangladesh’s Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP). The paper addresses the question as to “what are the broad lessons from the past development experience.†It captures the salient features of social progress notwithstanding the challenging odds...

This detailed assessment of the observance of standards and codes in the financial sector of the Kingdom of the Netherlands—Netherlands Antilles reviews implementation of the Basel Core Principles for effective banking. Legal provisions are in place entrusting the Bank of the Netherlands...

Madagascar showed strong economic growth and low inflation under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) Arrangement. Executive Directors commended these developments, and stressed the need to restore fiscal discipline, improve governance, strengthen the business climate to encourage...

Several years of high inflation rates have negatively affected economic conditions in Angola. Macroeconomic stabilization in Angola entails strict control over central bank credit to the government, an ending of the quasi-fiscal expenditures, and a reduction of the national bank of...

Recent developments in the external trade system, foreign exchange system, export performance, summary of current poverty situation, and tax system of Vietnam are presented in the paper. The statistical data on gross domestic product, consumer price inflation, gross value of agricultural...

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency practices in Portugal against the requirements of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency. IMF staff observed that Portugal meets the requirements of fiscal transparency code in several areas. Significant progress has also...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes labor market asymmetries and macroeconomic adjustment in Germany. Empirical work reported shows that in Germany, negative demand shocks increase the unemployment rate by more than the decrease in the unemployment rate caused by a comparable-sized positive...

The paper presents key findings of the Joint Staff Assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for Sri Lanka. Despite the country’s substantial achievements in human development and the economy’s external openness, several factors have impeded Sri Lanka’s...

This 2001 Article IV Consultation highlights that Latvia has enjoyed a strong economic performance since the last Article IV Consultation in June 2000. Real GDP growth was 6½ percent in 2000 and accelerated to 8¾ percent in the first half of 2001; growth has been led primarily by investment....

This Selected Issues paper analyzes economic and agricultural developments, and the impact of land reforms of Zimbabwe. The paper summarizes the quantitative estimates of the fiscal burden and overall medium-term macroeconomic impact of HIV/AIDS on Zimbabwe. It reviews the debt restructuring,...