Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Uma Ramakrishnan visited Kingston from September 5–15, 2017, to conduct discussions on the second review of Jamaica’s financial and economic program supported by the IMF’s precautionary Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

The Council decided on 14 September 2017 to publish the directives given to the Commission to negotiate a trade agreement with Japan.

In 2012, the Council gave a mandate to the Commission to start trade negotiations with Japan. At the EU-Japan summit of 6 July 2017, both parties reached agreement in principle on the main elements of a free trade deal, known as the economic partnership agreement (EPA).

On September 8, 2017 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Montenegro.

The French economy is expanding, the labour market is recovering – albeit gradually - while productivity and the standard of living remain generally high, according to a new OECD report. It adds that further reforms are now needed to maintain current levels of social protection, boost jobs and ensure that public finances are sustainable.

The World Bank launched the Bhutan Economic Update, September 2017. The Bhutan Economic Update reports on and synthesizes recent economic developments and places them in a medium-term, and regional and global context. It analyzes the implications of these developments and policies on the outlook of Bhutan’s economy.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Mr. Chris Jarvis visited Beirut from September 7 to 13, 2017 to take stock of Lebanon’s economic and financial developments, assess the economic outlook, and discuss policy priorities.

New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows the poverty rate dropped from 13.5 percent in 2015 to 12.7 percent in 2016 (latest figures available). That means 2.5 million fewer people are living in poverty than 2015.

Countries have continued the trend towards implementing tax policy reforms as part of wider strategies to boost growth, with a growing focus on reducing inequalities and driving behavioural change, according to a new report from the OECD.

● A new ECF arrangement in support of the country's economic and social development plan under discussion would aim to balance the scaling up of investment with maintaining macroeconomic stability.