Download or read book Panama 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Panama written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2021-07-30 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After over two decades of unprecedented economic expansion, Panama’s economy contracted sharply in 2020 amidst challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. As conditions rapidly deteriorated, Panama requested financial support under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) for 100 percent of quota equivalent to US$0.5 billion (SDR 0.4 billion) to address immediate balance of payments needs, which the IMF Executive Board approved on April 15, 2020. Subsequently, uncertainties magnified, and Panama requested a two-year arrangement under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) for 500 percent of quota, equivalent to US$2.7 billion (SDR 1.9 billion), as insurance against extreme external shocks, which was approved by the IMF Executive Board on January 19, 2021.
Download or read book Panama written by International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2023-03-24 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Panama was hit hard by the covid-19 pandemic, but the recovery has been strong. GDP expanded by 15.3 percent in 2021 and a projected 9 percent in 2022. Inflation is low compared with other countries, in part the result of temporary subsidies on fuel and food. The fiscal deficit declined from 101⁄2 percent of GDP in 2020 to 4 percent of GDP in 2022 and central government gross debt is estimated at 60 percent of GDP at end-2022. Banks are, on average, well capitalized and liquid. As insurance against external shocks, the IMF Executive Board approved a two-year Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) arrangement for 500 percent of quota, equivalent to US$2.7 billion (SDR 1.884 billion), on January 19, 2021.
Download or read book El Salvador 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for El Salvador written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2022-01-28 with total page 114 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The pandemic interrupted ten years of growth, but El Salvador is rebounding quickly. Robust external demand, resilient remittances, and a sound management of the pandemic—with the help of a disbursement under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) (SDR287.2 million or US$389 million) approved in April 2020—are supporting a strong recovery. Persistent fiscal deficits and high debt service are leading to large and increasing gross fiscal financing needs.
Download or read book Dominican Republic 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Dominican Republic written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2021-07-28 with total page 83 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The pandemic interrupted a prolonged growth spell that made the Dominican Republic one of the most dynamic economies in the region amid strong growth, macroeconomic stability and improved social outcomes. This built resilience to the shock—including by maintaining access to markets—and allowed a decisive policy response to address the health emergency, support growth, and protect the vulnerable.
Download or read book Panama written by International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2016-11-02 with total page 69 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 2016 Article IV Consultation highlights Panama’s expected continued growth—among the strongest in Latin America—against a backdrop of low inflation, a stable financial system, and a declining current account deficit. GDP grew by 5.8 percent in 2015, and growth is projected to remain at about 6 percent in 2016 and over the medium term. The economy will be supported by the expected opening of the expanded canal and lower fuel prices. The overall fiscal deficit is expected to consolidate to 1.2 percent of GDP over the medium term. Public debt is projected as sustainable.
Download or read book Panama First Review Under the Arrangement Under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Panama written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2021-08-02 with total page 55 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Macroeconomic vulnerabilities have declined since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The economy is expected to rebound swiftly in 2021 as activities return to normality and the population is increasingly vaccinated. External imbalances are contained. The fiscal position is gradually consolidated as the authorities remain committed to the revised fiscal rule, which will ensure a declining path for the NFPS debt. The outlook remains subject to elevated risks, including uncertainties arising from possible more contagious variants of the COVID-19 virus. Domestic risks include setbacks in implementing the FATF action plan to exit the grey list, delays in fiscal consolidation, and a prolonged pandemic that could exacerbate socioeconomic hardship and derail economic policies and the recovery.
Download or read book Trinidad and Tobago 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Trinidad and Tobago written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2022-03-10 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Trinidad and Tobago faced unprecedented challenges in 2020–21. The combined effects of COVID-19 and energy production and price shocks pushed the economy further into recession. A decisive policy response helped contain the virus spread and protect lives and livelihoods. The fiscal position worsened due to significant tax revenues shortfalls, pushing public debt up. The vaccination pace accelerated recently, but vaccine hesitancy remains high, amid a potential new wave of infections.
Download or read book The Bahamas 2022 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for The Bahamas written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2022-05-09 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bahamas is experiencing a tourism-led rebound. Real GDP growth in 2021 was close to 14 percent, as stayover tourist arrivals doubled relative to 2020. The economy is projected to expand by 8 percent in 2022. Nonetheless, it will likely take until 2024 to return to the 2019 level of GDP and the pandemic has given rise to significant human and social costs. The country’s medium-term growth challenges are likely worse than before, and public finances are in a more precarious state. Risks are skewed downwards given a difficult near-term financing situation, rising inflationary—and potentially BOP—pressures because of the war in Ukraine, an ongoing threat from the evolving pandemic, and the country’s high vulnerability to natural disasters.
Download or read book Peru 2022 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Peru written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2022-05-11 with total page 93 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After being hit very hard by the pandemic in 2020, both in terms of health and economic outcomes, Peru experienced an equally strong economic rebound in 2021. A new administration was inaugurated in July 2021 with a program focused on reducing inequality and improving social conditions, but limited support from Congress and lack of cohesion heightened political uncertainty. While real GDP surpassed its pre-pandemic level by 2021, labor force participation and total employment have not fully recovered yet. Poverty increased significantly in 2020 and, despite some improvement in 2021, remains higher than in 2019. On May 27, 2021, the IMF Executive Board completed the mid-term review of Peru’s continued qualification under the Flexible Credit Line (FCL) arrangement.
Download or read book Belize 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Belize written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2021-06-07 with total page 57 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Belize has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a deep recession and worsened fiscal and external positions from already weak levels. The opposition People’s United Party won the November 2020 elections by a wide margin, which gives the new government a unique opportunity to jump start much needed reforms to reduce large imbalances and anchor strong and inclusive growth.
Download or read book Republic of the Marshall Islands 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Republic of the Marshall Islands written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2021-05-27 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Strong and timely containment measures have successfully prevented a domestic COVID-19 outbreak but have also weighed on economic activity. The real GDP is estimated to have contracted by 3.3 percent in FY2020 and is projected to further decline by another 1.5 percent in FY 2021 due to continued travel restrictions. Economic activity is expected to pick up in FY2022, as COVID-related restrictions will be relaxed gradually. The government is currently negotiating the renewal of Compact of Free Association (COFA) financial provisions with the United States, but terms remain uncertain. The government is considering to repeal the SOV Act and a bill on establishing a Digital Economic Zone was submitted to the Parliament recently.
Download or read book Jamaica 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report Staff Statement and Statement by the Executive Director for Jamaica written by International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. and published by INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jamaica was hit hard by the pandemic. An early lockdown in the Spring of 2020 helped contain the number of Covid-19 cases but the impact on the economy was severe, with real GDP shrinking by 10 percent. To counter the social and economic effects of the pandemic, the government temporarily reduced the fiscal balance target from +0.7 to -3 percent of GDP, increased spending on health and social protection and reduced the VAT rate. The central bank injected liquidity and encouraged loan moratoria to provide temporary support to the private sector. Growth is expected to rebound to 4.7 percent in 2021 and 4.3 percent in 2022. Downside risks to the outlook are significant, notably from Covid-19.
Download or read book Peru written by International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2023-03-27 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Against the background of a strong economic performance over the last quarter of a century, Peru has been hit by multiple shocks in the last several years. Adequate policies and very strong policy frameworks have made the economy resilient. Following a steep decline in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic and a rapid recovery in 2021, growth slowed significantly in 2022 as the policy stimulus was withdrawn and external and financial conditions deteriorated. Recent political developments suggest that the new government needs to work across the political spectrum to create broader political consensus, reduce uncertainty, ease social tensions, and boost growth.
Download or read book Nicaragua written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2023-01-27 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Substantial pre-crisis buffers (primarily government deposits), prudent policies, and official external financial assistance helped Nicaragua recover well from a protracted downturn during 2018-2020 caused by the socio-political crisis of 2018, two major hurricanes in 2020, and the pandemic. Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 10.3 percent in 2021 and is projected to grow by 4 percent in 2022, despite hurricane Julia that affected the country in October. Inflation on an annual basis reached 11.4 percent in November 2022, mostly due to increases in import prices. The authorities introduced fiscal measures to mitigate the impact of the increases in oil and wheat prices, and also increased the reference interest rate. Bank deposits are growing strongly and reached the pre-crisis level (in Córdobas). Gross international reserves have doubled since end-2018 (to over US$4 billion; about 6 months of imports, excluding maquila).
Download or read book Guatemala written by International Monetary and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2023-05-24 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Guatemala has weathered many crises well. Its 's economy has proved resilient, building on a solid track-record of prudent policies--low fiscal deficits and debt-to-GDP ratio, and high international reserves--and strong remittance inflows. After a strong rebound in 2021, Guatemala's economy has been slowing down--with GDP growth halving to a solid 4.1 percent in 2022. Inflation increased in 2022 but peaked in February 2023 (9.9 percent, year-on-year) to drop to 8.71 percent in March 2023. At the same time, public investment tends to be under-executed, poverty remains high, and tax revenue is weak, while substantial institutional, investment, and social gaps and governance weaknesses hinder progress. Addressing these requires higher broad-based and inclusive growth and further progress in the reform agenda. The authorities' goal to attain investment grade and attract foreign investment could unlock opportunities. General elections are due June 25, 2023 (the second round on August 20, if needed).
Download or read book Women Business and the Law 2021 written by World Bank and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2021-04-05 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Women, Business and the Law 2021 is the seventh in a series of annual studies measuring the laws and regulations that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. The project presents eight indicators structured around women’s interactions with the law as they move through their lives and careers: Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. This year’s report updates all indicators as of October 1, 2020 and builds evidence of the links between legal gender equality and women’s economic inclusion. By examining the economic decisions women make throughout their working lives, as well as the pace of reform over the past 50 years, Women, Business and the Law 2021 makes an important contribution to research and policy discussions about the state of women’s economic empowerment. Prepared during a global pandemic that threatens progress toward gender equality, this edition also includes important findings on government responses to COVID-19 and pilot research related to childcare and women’s access to justice.
Download or read book Dominica 2021 Article IV Consultation Press Release Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Dominica written by International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. and published by INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. This book was released on 2022-02-14 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dominica has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with an estimated decline in GDP of 11 percent in 2020 underpinned by a sharp reduction in tourism receipts that affected connected sectors and by lockdown measures to limit virus contagion. The output decline was contained by health spending, social transfers, and public investment resilient to natural disasters which increased significantly, leading to an increase in public debt to 106 percent of GDP despite record-high Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) revenue. The financial sector remained stable and liquid, but vulnerability continue to be significant in the under-capitalized non-bank sector.
