Country Reports
2018
October 29, 2018
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Fiscal Transparency Evaluation
Description: This report assesses the state of fiscal transparency practices in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia against the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code. The report finds that Macedonia meets the standard of good or advanced practice on 13 of the 36 principles, and the basic standard on a further 12 principles. Moreover, in 5 of the areas where Macedonia’s transparency practices do not currently meet basic practice, this could be addressed by publishing data that are already collected for internal management purposes. It is recommended to expand the institutional coverage of fiscal and statistical reports, to include the activities of all institutional units that would be classified as part of the general government under international statistical standards.
October 26, 2018
Argentina: First Review under the Stand-By Arrangement; Inflation Consultation; Financing Assurances Review; and Request for Rephasing, Augmentation, Waivers of Nonobservance and Applicability of Performance Criteria, and Modification of Performance Criteria-Press Release; Staff Report; and Staff Supplement
Description: This paper discusses Argentina’s First Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), Inflation Consultation, Financing Assurances Review, and Requests for Rephasing, Augmentation, Waivers of Nonobservance and Applicability of Performance Criteria. All performance criteria and the structural benchmark for end-June were met. The authorities have proactively recognized that restoring stability in Argentina will require a significant reshaping of their policy program and have requested changes in the nature of IMF support under the SBA. The authorities are forcefully strengthening their policy program by eliminating the primary fiscal deficit in 2019 and targeting a primary surplus in 2020. The IMF staff supports the authorities’ request to modify the program supported by the SBA.
October 26, 2018
Argentina: Stand-By Arrangement-Review under the Emergency Financing Mechanism
Description: Preliminary data suggests that all the performance criteria and structural benchmark for end-June are likely to be met, although end-of-June inflation was above the inner band of the consultation clause reflecting the pass through from the higher-than-expected depreciation of the peso. Pressures on financial markets have abated in July, also owing to the strong tightening of monetary conditions from the authorities. Continued restraint on government spending has helped reduce the primary fiscal deficit in the first six months of 2018, exceeding program goals, and the authorities are working to secure political support for the 2019 Budget. The recent staff report publication garnered broad press coverage and interest from market participants, providing details on the authorities’ plan. The authorities have also strongly renewed their ownership of the program, stressing that its implementation is essential to stabilize the economy and publicly renewing their commitment to achieve the targets under the program.
October 24, 2018
Dominican Republic: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff Report
Description: This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that after three years of robust expansion, the economy of the Dominican Republic moderated to close to its potential level. Economic activity is estimated to have expanded by 4.6 percent in 2017, following above-potential growth of 7.1 percent on average during 2014–16. The growth moderation was concentrated in the first three quarters of 2017. The economic outlook remains positive. The monetary easing in mid-2017 is expected to support a continued recovery in economic activity in 2018. Lower lending rates and stronger credit growth following the easing, combined with higher real wages and employment, are expected to continue to support domestic demand.
October 23, 2018
Kenya: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper analyzes Kenya’s success in boosting financial inclusion. Kenya has become a regional and global leader in mobilizing new technologies to advance financial inclusion, poverty reduction, and growth. The rapid progress of financial inclusion in Kenya has been a result of a friendly environment for the absorption of information technology, dynamic local banks, and open and stable regulations. Advances in financial inclusion over the past 10 years have allowed Kenyans to reap many of the benefits of financial access at a much faster pace than the typical cycle of financial deepening in low- and middle-income countries. Mobile financial services have lowered the transaction cost of remittances, allowing Kenyan households to smooth consumption in the face of shocks and significantly reducing poverty.
October 23, 2018
Kenya: Staff Report for the 2018 Article IV Consultation and Establishment of Performance Criteria for the Second Review Under the Stand-by Arrangement
Description: This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that Kenya has maintained strong growth in recent years. External imbalances have narrowed, strengthening resilience to shocks. The business environment continues to improve, supporting private investment. However, a severe drought, an extended presidential election, and weak bank lending—due in part to interest rate controls—slowed growth in 2017. Kenya’s medium-term growth prospects are favorable, supported by infrastructure investment and an improving business environment. However, continued strong growth and macroeconomic stability hinge on the implementation of reforms. In addition, headwinds from fiscal consolidation and weak credit growth will weigh on economic activity in the near term.
October 17, 2018
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Technical Assistance Report-Government Finance Statistics Technical Assistance Mission
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses the findings and recommendations of the IMF mission regarding compilation of Government Finance Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina as per the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 and the European System of National and Regional Accounts 2010. On the compilation of Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) tables, the mission assisted the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the completion of derivation tables for net lending / net borrowing of the budgetary governments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska. The mission also recommended implementing a coding system for statistical adjustments to the source data; applying the superdividend test; and further implementing derivation tables for the compilation of EDP tables.
October 8, 2018
Tunisia: Fourth Review Under the Extended Fund Facility Arrangement and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Tunisia
Description: This paper discusses Tunisia’s Fourth Review Under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria (PCs). The recovery has proceeded broadly as expected in the Third Review, notwithstanding elevated socio-political tensions and a further increase in oil prices. Growth accelerated to 2.8 percent in the second quarter driven by agriculture and tourism. The authorities met all Quantitative PCs and implemented two out of the three Structural Benchmarks due for the Fourth Review, notably the competitive central bank foreign exchange auctions. The IMF staff supports the authorities’ request for completion of the Fourth Review under the EFF arrangement.
October 4, 2018
Barbados: Request for an Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Supplement; and Statement by the Executive Director for Barbados
Description: This paper discusses Barbados’ Request for an Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The authorities have requested a 4-year EFF arrangement that would be appropriate given the structural nature of fiscal imbalances and the extensive need for structural reforms to support fiscal consolidation and growth promotion. The prior action on launching the domestic part of the debt restructuring would be supplemented by a medium-term structural reform agenda. In view of Barbados’ balance-of-payments needs and the comprehensive package of measures proposed by the authorities, the IMF staff supports the authorities’ request for a four-year extended arrangement under the EFF in the amount of 220 percent of quota.
October 3, 2018
Republic of Madagascar: Technical Assistance Report-Government Finance Statistics
Description: This mission’s goal was to have the Malagasy authorities adopt the methodology of the Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM) 2014 for their own needs. The desired outcome of adopting the manual is to develop a set of government finance statistics (GFSs) that are consistent with current international standards in order to conduct a macroeconomic analysis of government finance.