Republic of Slovenia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Slovenia

Republic of Slovenia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Slovenia
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2021-05-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513573004

The pandemic is inflicting much suffering, which has been met with swift, substantial, and well-coordinated policy responses. The anti-crisis measures have helped preserve jobs, provide liquidity to companies and income support to the vulnerable groups. They averted a larger decline in output and kept unemployment under control. After contracting by 5.5 percent in 2020, real GDP is projected to grow by 3.9 percent in 2021 and 4.5 percent in 2022, as vaccinations help achieve herd immunity. However, risks to the outlook are large and tilted to the downside, given the epidemiological situation.

International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2021

International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2021
Author: International Monetary Fund. Secretary's Department
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2021-10-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513568817

A recovery is underway, but the economic fallout from the global pandemic could be with us for years to come. With the crisis exacerbating prepandemic vulnerabilities, country prospects are diverging. Nearly half of emerging market and developing economies and some middle-income countries are now at risk of falling further behind, undoing much of the progress made toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Euro Area Policies

Euro Area Policies
Author: International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 64
Release: 2018-07-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484368959

This is a time to strengthen the resilience of the euro area and raise its long-term growth potential. Despite the recent slowdown and coming end of quantitative easing, growth remains strong and monetary conditions accommodative. Member countries should grasp the opportunity to address deep structural challenges, rebuild thin policy buffers, and rebalance externally. Mounting downside risks add urgency. The supportive monetary stance should be maintained until inflation is convincingly converging to objective. As net asset purchases draw to a close, clear forward guidance will become even more important.

Belgium: 2021 Article IV Consultation -Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Belgium

Belgium: 2021 Article IV Consultation -Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Belgium
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 66
Release: 2021-09-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513597884

Belgium was hit hard early by Covid-19, but a timely, strong, and sustained health and economic policy response helped cushion impacts. A coalition government took office in October 2020, giving greater policy clarity and rightly prioritizing the Covid-19 crisis. A highly-effective vaccine rollout has facilitated reopening and recovery.

Euro Area Policies

Euro Area Policies
Author: International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 103
Release: 2023-07-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

The euro area economy has shown resilience in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the largest terms of trade loss in several decades, reflecting strong policy efforts to secure gas supplies and cushion disposable incomes. Nonetheless, activity has weakened, with the economy slipping into a mild technical recession in early 2023, and inflation is far above target. While headline inflation has started to decline with the easing of supply bottlenecks and energy prices, core inflation is proving more persistent. Euro area banks are well capitalized and liquid overall, but the rapid tightening of monetary policy after a prolonged period of accommodation can expose pockets of weakness in the financial system, including in the nonbank sector.

Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: 2021 Discussion on Common Policies of Member Countries-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union

Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: 2021 Discussion on Common Policies of Member Countries-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 84
Release: 2021-05-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 151357292X

The fallout from the COVID-19 crisis is hitting ECCU economies hard. Tourism receipts (accounting for nearly 40 percent of GDP) have dried up, as tourist arrivals have come to a grinding halt. The authorities successfully contained the spread of the virus at the onset of the pandemic by largely closing the borders, but a reopening of the economies since the summer has led to a surge in COVID cases. The ECCU economy is projected to contract by 16 percent in 2020 and by a further near 1⁄2 percent in 2021. Fiscal positions have deteriorated sharply, and public debt is projected to reach near 90 percent of GDP in 2021 and remain at an elevated level for years to come. Headline indicators suggest the financial system is relatively sound with ample liquidity buffers, but nonperforming loans are expected to rise significantly. The outlook is clouded by exceptionally high risks, including from the uncertainty concerning the evolution of the pandemic.

People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China
Author: International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 77
Release: 2017-08-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484314727

This Selected Issues paper examines the drivers and prospects for high levels of savings in China. China has one of the highest levels of national savings in the world, which is at the heart of its external and internal imbalances. High and rising household savings have mainly resulted from demographic changes as a result of the one-child policy and the breakdown of the social safety net during the transition from a planned to a market economy. Demographic changes will put downward pressure on national savings. Policy efforts to strengthen the social safety net and reduce income inequality are also needed to reduce savings further and faster and to boost consumption.

Germany: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Germany

Germany: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Germany
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 78
Release: 2021-07-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513594435

Germany’s economy contracted by just under 5 percent in 2020, outperforming most European peers. But renewed waves of infections and associated lockdowns caused economic activity to plunge again in the first quarter of this year. While the pace of mass vaccination has picked up and the economy has started to reopen, the recovery path is beset with risks, particularly with respect to the progress of the pandemic and supply shortages in major industries. The authorities have maintained appropriately accommodative fiscal and financial policies, and most measures supporting households and firms have been extended through 2021.

Thailand: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Thailand

Thailand: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Thailand
Author: International Monetary
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 104
Release: 2021-06-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513573020

A nascent recovery is underway in Thailand following the COVID-19 downturn. Ample policy buffers, underpinned by judicious management of public finances, allowed the authorities to implement a multipronged package of fiscal, monetary, and financial policies to mitigate the COVID-19 impact on households, businesses, and the financial system. This, together with rigorous containment measures, led to a successful flattening of the infection curve during most of 2020. Nevertheless, the pandemic has taken a large toll on the economy, potentially inducing long-term scarring and increasing inequality.