We study whether multiyear fiscal adjustment plans in 17 OECD countries during 1980-2011 have been associated with market pressure. We find that only a third (34 percent) of the consolidations occurred under market pressure, suggesting that market pressure is important but not the main element...

This paper assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of fiscal institutions in ten Southeastern European countries, using recent benchmarking methodologies developed by FAD. The assessment evaluates each country’s understanding of the scale of the fiscal adjustment challenge, its...

This report discusses Angola’s sixth review under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) and request for waivers of nonobservance of performance criteria. Three years after the abrupt decline in world oil prices that severely impacted its economy, Angola has reached a sharply improved fiscal...

The staff report for the Fifth Review Under the Extended Arrangement and Request for Waivers of Applicability and Nonobservance of End-September Performance Criteria, prepared by a staff team of the IMF, following discussions that ended on September 11, 2012, with the officials of Portugal on...

This staff report examines the Kingdom of Lesotho’s 2012 Article IV Consultation and second and third reviews under the three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility. Real GDP growth for 2010/11 is estimated at 5¾ percent, and inflation rose gradually in 2011, driven by...

The staff report for Ireland’s fifth review under the Extended Arrangement states that financial sector reforms continued to advance, with the two structural benchmarks for end-2011 observed. In particular, targets for bank deleveraging in 2011 were met, with almost €15 billion of...

Strong exports in the Slovak Republic supported a healthy economic expansion with real GDP growing 3.3 percent in 2011. The 2012 Article IV Consultation highlights that the robust performance of net exports offset the contraction in domestic demand amid fiscal consolidation and volatile consumer...

This 2011 Article IV Consultation highlights that the difficult global economic conditions continue to hit Barbados with growth at anemic levels. The current account deficit has widened in recent times owing to higher oil and food prices. Executive Directors commended the authorities for...

The economy is on the right track, and program performance has been good. Fiscal adjustment is on track to restore fiscal sustainability. The adjustment plan appropriately focuses on reducing current spending while increasing investment and protecting the most vulnerable. The current monetary...