Country Reports
2013
May 22, 2013
Malawi: Second Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria
Description: In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.
May 21, 2013
Switzerland: 2013 Article IV Consultation
Description: The Article IV Consultation discusses the IMF Executive Board’s assessment of economic developments and policies in Switzerland. With the exchange rate floor in place for more than one year, the Swiss economy has been relatively stable. Although overall export growth is weak, the external position remains comfortable, reflecting high investment income and strong export performance in some sectors. Executive Directors noted that, notwithstanding Switzerland’s stable economy and strong policy frameworks, risks stemming mostly from the euro area crisis and vulnerabilities in the domestic financial sector have clouded the near-term outlook.
May 21, 2013
Switzerland: Selected Issues Paper
Description: The Selected Issue Paper discusses the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) balance sheet risks and policy implications. Despite increased profit allocations, SNB capital has not kept pace with its growing balance sheet. The paper also explores the empirical determinants of pressures on the Swiss franc with the purpose of sorting out the relative importance of four factors: conventional monetary policy stance in other advanced countries and large emerging markets; quantitative easing and other unconventional policies pursued by major central banks; the euro area sovereign debt crisis; and global risk aversion.
May 20, 2013
Malawi: First Review Under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement, Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion, and Modification of Performance Criteria—Staff Report; Informational Annex; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Malawi
Description: This collection of papers reviews Malawi’s economic performance under a program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). Drought conditions in parts of the country have dampened the near-term outlook for growth and have resulted in food insecurity for nearly 2 million inhabitants. The authorities have therefore implemented strong adjustment measures to address Malawi’s substantial external and internal imbalances. The IMF Executive Board has also decided to enable the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 13.02 million (about US$20 million), bringing total disbursements under the program to an amount equivalent to SDR 26.04 million (about US$40.1 million), which will help Malawi to accelerate growth under the ECF.
May 17, 2013
Republic of San Marino: 2013 Article IV Consultation
Description: This Article IV Consultation focuses on San Marino’s prolonged recession. The global crisis has led to a significant decline in budget revenues. However, San Marino’s sizable pre-2008 budget surplus, combined with recent tax measures and efforts to restrain expenditures, have helped contain the deficit at about 3 percent of GDP. Executive Directors noted that San Marino’s economy will face financial and fiscal challenges in the near term, as well as uncertain medium-term prospects. Directors considered that, notwithstanding the recent recapitalization, the largest bank will need more capital to meet prudential requirements.
May 17, 2013
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Second Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Requests for Waivers of Applicability and Modification of Performance Criteria —Staff Report; Press Release; and Statement by the Executive Director
Description: The economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is strongly connected to Europe through trade and financial channels, continues to pay a high price for the tough conditions in the area. The paper discuss that, following low demand in its trading partners, exports slumped in 2012 by 7.5 percent, dragging the economy to an export-led recession that resulted in a contraction of economic activity by 0.7 percent. The share of government spending in GDP fell by almost a percentage point, offsetting completely the automatic stabilizers.
May 17, 2013
Belgium: Financial System Stability Assessment
Description: This financial stability assessment provides an update on the significant regulatory and supervisory developments in the banking and insurance sectors of Belgium since 2006. The Belgian financial system is relatively large with solid capital buffers on aggregate, and the 2008 global financial crisis has had a major impact on the Belgian financial sector. The links between banks and the Belgian sovereign have intensified owing to the crisis, with total exposure of the banking sector to the federal government at 10 percent of banking sector assets in mid-2012.
May 17, 2013
Belgium: 2013 Article IV Consultation
Description: The Belgian economy showed considerable progress through 2011 in terms of both growth and employment. However, the 2013 Article IV Consultation underlines that the European recession has had a negative impact on its economy, giving rise to unemployment. The economy has entered its second year of near zero growth. To help restore competitiveness and improve financial market conditions, decisive actions have been taken. Important decisions in 2012 include pension schemes and unemployment benefit systems with the objective of raising the employment rate to 73 percent by 2020.
May 17, 2013
Jamaica: Request for an Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility
Description: During the past three decades, Jamaica has shown low economic growth and high public debt, and has faced other social challenges. To help restore competitiveness and improve financial market conditions, the authorities have come up with a comprehensive four-year economic program—2013/14 through 2016/17—that aims to avert immediate crisis risks and create the necessary conditions for sustained growth. The program’s main pillars include structural reforms, fiscal adjustments supported by extensive fiscal reforms, and improved social protection programs.
May 17, 2013
Cyprus: Request for an Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility
Description: Cyprus experienced significant internal and external imbalances owing to the European financial crisis. The oversized and weak banking sector continued to be a threat to the sovereign. Greek debt restructuring, together with loan losses of both Cyprus and Greece, resulted in the two largest banks being declared insolvent. However, the authorities have taken unprecedented steps to address the country’s banking problems. Temporary administrative controls have been taken to preserve financial stability, while the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement has been aimed to stabilize the financial system and achieve fiscal sustainability.