Country Reports
2021
February 11, 2021
Iraq: 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Iraq
Description: Iraq's socio-economic fragilities have been severely aggravated by the pandemic and the sharp decline in oil revenues, which arrived on the heels of widespread social unrest and political instability. The health system’s limited capacity has been strained, while the fiscal position has become untenable as oil revenues declined sharply to a level that barely covers the government’s large wage and pension bills. Although the number of new infections declined recently, Iraq registered the second-highest COVID-related fatalities in the region, and the fiscal response to the pandemic has been one of the lowest. A six-month political paralysis preceding the formation of the government in May 2020 and plans to hold early parliamentary elections in mid-2021 have been weighing on political support for reforms. Risks of social unrest, geopolitical tensions, and insecurity remain elevated.
February 10, 2021
Panama: Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes—Data Module
Description: Panama’s statistical system is well established by a legal framework that generally provides the necessary authority for the collection and compilation of statistics. Panama has a well-developed macroeconomic statistical system and the government recognizes the importance of good statistics for policy and investment decisions. This Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) is a follow-up to the Panama ROSC issued in 2006. Since 2006, Panama has acted upon a number of the recommendations of the previous ROSC, has passed and implemented new statistical legislation, created the National Statistical Institute and enhanced its statistical compilation and dissemination practices. This report assesses the current state of the statistical system and makes a number of recommendations related to future developments that will further enhance the statistical system. The legal framework assigns responsibility for the socio-economic statistics to the Comptroller General of the Republic of Panama (CG), which is subsequently delegated to the National Statistical Institute (INEC). Among other social and economic data INEC compiles and disseminates national accounts, consumer price index (CPI), government finance, and external statistics. The MEF in collaboration with INEC also compiles and disseminates fiscal statistics. Given Panama’s long history of dollarization and absence of a central bank, there is no assignment of responsibility for compiling and disseminating a complete set of monetary and financial statistics. Instead, the Superintendency of Banks of Panama (SBP) produces banking sector statistics in line with its functions. Consequently, statistical practices for some elements of the DQAF do not apply to this sector (Box 1). Opportunities exist for improving the methodological basis and source data for most datasets.
February 9, 2021
Vanuatu: Technical Assistance Report-Feasibility Study on the Introduction of Quarterly National Accounts
Description: The Vanuatu National Statistics Office (VNSO) requested a mission by the IMF’s Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC) for conducting a feasibility study on the implementation of a quarterly national accounts (QNA) in Vanuatu. This study outlines the staff, organizational and data requirements for Vanuatu to implement a quarterly national accounts program.
February 8, 2021
Russian Federation: 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report
Description: Russia entered the crisis with low potential growth but strong macroeconomic policy frameworks and significant buffers. Policy space allowed the authorities to mount a sizeable public health and countercyclical response to the crisis, which has helped limit the economic downturn. Nevertheless, the crisis is likely to leave some long-term scars.
February 8, 2021
Republic of Poland: 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Poland
Description: After a long period of uninterrupted growth, Poland is experiencing a pandemic-induced recession, though strong policy actions have limited the damage. The economy rebounded strongly in the third quarter of 2020, but the second wave of the virus has delayed the recovery. A strong and effective policy response has supported economic activity and prevented destructive losses of employment and bankruptcies. Following the recession in 2020, Poland is well positioned for recovery. The pandemic will remain a constraint until the assumed administration of vaccines over the course of 2021. Resiliency in the corporate sector and labor markets, aided by strong policy support, should foster a strong rebound. Sizeable new EU grants would also facilitate an increase in investment and boost growth. The course of the pandemic and ultimate success of vaccines remains a fundamental risk.
February 8, 2021
Nigeria: 2020 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Alternate Executive Director for Nigeria
Description: The Nigerian economy is at a critical juncture. A weak pre-crisis economy characterized by falling per capita income, double-digit inflation, significant governance vulnerabilities and limited buffers, is grappling with multiple shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Real output is projected to contract by 3.2 percent in 2020, with a weak recovery likely to keep per capita income stagnant and no higher than the 2010 level in the medium term. Policy adjustment and reforms are urgently needed to navigate this crisis and change the long-running lackluster course.
February 5, 2021
Iraq: Technical Assistance Report-Guarantees and Extra Budgetary Funds Management
Description: Iraq is substantially exposed to fiscal risks related to guarantees issued by the State, with a stock of guarantees related to foreign currency service payments and debt of USD 21.7 billion at end-June 2017 and a stock of domestic guarantees that remains to be fully assessed. In 2017, the Council of Ministers approved a set of procedures to tighten controls on the approval of State guarantees. Nevertheless, misreporting cases highlight the need to further strengthen capacities and institutional arrangements to effectively identify and monitor the fiscal implications of guarantees, including in the context of EBFs’ operations.
February 3, 2021
Panama: Request for an Arrangement Under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Panama
Description: While Panama has been the most dynamic economy in Latin America over the last three decades (growing 6 percent on average), its strength is being tested by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Panama is a service-based economy that is highly integrated in the world economy and exposed to extreme shocks during the pandemic.
February 3, 2021
Panama: Technical Assistance Report-Monetary and Financial Statistics
Description: At the request of the Superintendency of Banks of Panama (SBP), and with the support of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Western Hemisphere Department (WHD), a monetary and financial statistics (MFS) remote technical assistance (TA) mission from the IMF’s Statistics Department (STA) took place during June 22-July 10, 2020. The main objective of the mission was to assist the SBP in the compilation of new standard report forms for depository corporations (SRF 1SR and SRF 2SR) on the basis of internationally accepted standards, as set out in the IMF’s 2016 Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide (MFSMCG), following the introduction of a new chart of accounts by the SBP, and to agree on an improved timeline to report monetary and financial statistics to STA, on a monthly basis. The work of the mission was facilitated by the excellent collaboration of the staff of the Financial Studies Directorate (FSD) of the SBP. The officials met during the mission are listed in Appendix I.