Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

The World Bank’s latest review of government policies and institutions in Africa shows that half of the region’s countries posted relatively weak performance in their policy environment supporting development and poverty reduction in 2015.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Anita Tuladhar visited Tirana from June 15–28, 2016, to conduct discussions on the eighth review of Albania’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement.

On June 22, 2016 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Denmark.

Economic performance has been relatively weak for an extended period, notably on account of low productivity growth that has lagged peers. Recently, a trend decline in oil and gas production has also started to weigh on output.

On June 17, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2016 Article IV consultation with Vietnam. Vietnam’s economy has experienced solid growth with low inflation, reflecting policy attention to maintaining macroeconomic stability.

Global transactions from customers to micro, small and medium retailers

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 27, 2016 completed the eleventh review of Pakistan’s economic performance under a three-year program supported by an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. The Executive Board’s decision enables the immediate disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 360 million (about US$501 million), bringing total disbursements to SDR 4.32 billion (about US$6.01 billion).

Ministers and high-level representatives from 41 countries and the European Union committed on 23 June at the closure of the OECD’s 2016 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, Mexico, to work together to preserve an open Internet, close digital divides, promote digital skills and generally do more to seize the potential of the digital economy.

Young job-seekers need a comprehensive career guidance system and better information on education choices and employment opportunities, reveals the World Bank’s report From Aspirations to Occupations: The Role of Information in Educational and Labor Market Decisions in Moldova. For the first time in Moldova, this report addresses how students make decisions, what information they use and who they consult, as well as what career guidance they find useful.

On June 20, 2016 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2016 Article IV consultation with Iceland.

The outlook is positive. Growth is accelerating this year and is expected to exceed 4.5 percent, led by robust domestic demand and booming tourism. Growth will likely slow thereafter as policies to dampen excess demand and inflationary pressures take hold.