This paper examines Madagascar’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), and Requests for Extension of Arrangement. Madagascar’s performance under the PRGF-supported program in 2001 was strong, with the exception of weak revenue...

This paper assesses Bulgaria’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, First Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), and a Request for Waiver of Non-observance and Waiver of Applicability. The authorities’ structural reform program is ambitious, but implementation needs to be stepped up. In...

This paper examines Tanzania’s 2002 Article IV Consultation, Fifth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and a Request for an Extension of the Arrangement and Waiver of Performance Criterion. Tanzania’s performance under the PRGF-supported program has been broadly on...

In the fiscal area, the primary budget balance of São Tomé and Príncipe has turned around from a deficit of 2.2 percent of GDP in 1997 to a surplus of 0.7 percent of GDP in 1998 (Dobra 1.9 billion). The primary surplus is estimated to have increased further to 1.3 percent of GDP in 1999....

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that Armenia’s recent economic performance has remained strong, and the economy is poised for another year of double-digit growth. Rising inflation, a widening current account deficit, and rapid credit growth have raised concerns about overheating....

This paper presents the staff report for Peru’s 2008 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review and Inflation Consultation under the Stand-By Arrangement and request for waiver of applicability of performance criteria. Peru has been liberalizing external trade through tariff reductions in past...

This paper examines Mali’s 2001 Article IV Consultation, Third Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), Third Annual Program, and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria. Program implementation to date has been satisfactory, with all quantitative performance...

Tajikistan’s growth potential is constrained by government interference in markets, and poor energy and transport infrastructure. The report focuses on Tajikistan’s combined 2009 Article IV Consultation, final review under the Staff-Monitored Program, and request for a Three-Year Arrangement...

This 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that Burundi is emerging slowly from more than a decade of civil conflict. GDP per capita is about US$139, and only 18 percent of the population is food secure. Economic growth slowed down while inflation increased in 2007. External developments were...

After years of macroeconomic stability, the global crisis is having a substantial, albeit somewhat delayed, impact on Nepal’s economy and exposing its structural weaknesses. Although the Nepalese rupee appears modestly overvalued, maintaining the peg should remain a key near-term policy...