Finance & Economics

IMF Staff Reviews Progress of Madagascar’s Economic Program

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Marshall Mills, Mission Chief for Madagascar, visited Antananarivo from March14–28, 2018 to hold discussions on the third review of Madagascar’s economic reform program supported by the IMF’s...

Agriculture Remains Key to Somalia’s Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

The World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on March 28 released a new joint report titled, Rebuilding Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture in Somalia, outlining the challenges and opportunities for Somalia’s agriculture sector.

Switzerland’s significant foreign bribery enforcement should be accompanied by harsher penalties and private sector whistleblower protection

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has just completed a review of Switzerland's enforcement of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.

Pacific Seasonal Worker Programme set for Bigger Impact

A new report has found that Australia’s Seasonal Worker Program continues to deliver significant advantages, not just for Australian farmers, but for the workers, households, and com­munities of participating Pacific Island countries, yet outlines...

Latin America and the Caribbean: Tax revenues expected to recover after dip in 2016

Tax revenues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) dipped in 2016, falling further behind average OECD country levels, but a recovery is likely in subsequent years, according to Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean 2018. The...

Indonesia Continues to Build on Solid Economic Growth

Indonesia maintained strong economic growth in 2017 and the outlook continues to be positive, according to the World Bank’s March 2018 Indonesia Economic Quarterly.

IMF Executive Board Completes Second Review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement for Tunisia

● The government’s reform program supported by the EFF arrangement aims at reducing high and growing macroeconomic imbalances, ensuring adequate social protection, and fostering private sector-led, job-creating growth.

Australia needs to shore up development aid to match its reinforced engagement

Australia’s active global engagement on development and its focus on fragile small island states and disaster risk reduction are commendable. However successive cuts to the country’s aid budget since 2013 are impairing its efforts, according to a new...

Statement by IMF African Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie at the Conclusion of his Visit to Senegal

● It will be important for the Senegalese authorities to enhance tax revenue mobilization to sustain much needed development spending and maintain debt sustainability.

Addressing Inequality through More Equitable Labor Markets in Mauritius: World Bank Report

Mauritius is often cited as an African success story, given the last decade was characterized by substantial economic growth. However, the same decade was also marked by limited shared prosperity and increased inequality. According to the newly...