Country Reports
2018
November 14, 2018
Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Technical Assistance Report-Implementation of Risk Based Supervision
Description: The BoL has been implementing risk-based supervision (RBS) methods on a pilot basis. The RBS manual is now substantially complete, and the BSD staff are applying the RBS methods on a pilot basis. The BSD staff have drafted Institutional Profiles (IP) and Risk Assessment Summaries (RAS) for more than half of the banks; benchmarks and peer groups are being implemented; on-site reports of examination (ROX) have been utilized for several banks. The mission worked with off-site and on-site teams analyzing data for two pilot banks. Utilizing actual results for two pilot banks, the mission assisted BSD staff in identifying the risks, measuring and evaluating the impact on banks’ condition, and formulating appropriate conclusions and ratings.
November 14, 2018
Bhutan: Technical Assistance Report-Report on the External Sector Statistics Technical Assistance Mission (April 2–13, 2018)
Description: As part of the IMF-South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) work program, a technical assistance (TA) mission on external sector statistics (ESS) was conducted during April 2–13, 2018. The mission assisted the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) in compiling and disseminating external debt statistics (EDS) consistent with the international investment position (IIP), reviewed the compilation method of direct investment statistics, and assessed the coverage of external flows related to hydropower projects.
November 14, 2018
United Kingdom: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper estimates the long-run economic impact of Brexit on the United Kingdom under two distinct assumptions for the post-Brexit relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. These illustrative scenarios entail different degrees of higher trade costs, a more restricted European Union migration regime and reduced foreign inward investment. A standard multicountry and multisector computable general equilibrium model is used to quantify the impact of higher trade barriers. There is substantial sectoral heterogeneity in the impact, and regions with higher concentrations of the more affected sectors are likely to confront greater losses. The empirical analysis suggests the speed of sectoral labor relocation across sectors has been relatively low in the UK. Irrespective of these empirical estimates, policies, such as retraining, would be critical to facilitate faster adjustment of the economy to the post-Brexit equilibrium thereby helping to minimize the associated costs to individuals and in aggregate.
November 14, 2018
Republic of Uzbekistan: Technical Assistance Report-Report on the External Sector Statistics Mission (November 20–December 1, 2017)
Description: At the request of the Republic of Uzbekistan authorities for technical assistance (TA) on external sector statistics (ESS), and with the support of the Middle East and Central Asia Department (MCD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a mission from the IMF Statistics Department (STA) visited Tashkent from November 20 through December 1, 2017. This was the first TA mission on ESS since the Republic of Uzbekistan Presidential Order of September 12, 2017, “On Measures to Ensure the Accessibility and Openness of Economic and Financial Data for the Republic of Uzbekistan” was issued.
November 12, 2018
Republic of Equatorial Guinea: First Review under the Staff-Monitored Program-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: In May 2018, the IMF’s Management approved a 7-month Staff-Monitored Program (SMP), covering the period January 1–July 31, 2018. The main fiscal objectives of the SMP are to (i) reduce the budget deficit through non-hydrocarbon revenue mobilization and expenditure reduction while protecting social spending and (ii) address critical weaknesses in public financial management. The program also contains measures to improve the business climate, foster economic diversification, and lay the basis for improving governance and transparency. In addition, the program is providing a framework for bolstering capacity and helping build an adequate track record of performance as the basis for discussions on a potential Fund-supported program later this year.
November 9, 2018
Chile: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Chile
Description: The Chilean economy is recovering from a prolonged slowdown that started with the decline in copper prices in 2011 and intensified over the past two years. The new administration, which took office in March, aims at reinvigorating investment and economic growth through structural reforms, but a divided Congress may constrain the reform space.
November 8, 2018
Solomon Islands: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Solomon Islands
Description: Solomon Islands has made substantial progress since the Tensions in the early 2000s but faces considerable economic and governance challenges and is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. The logging industry confronts depletion and new sources of growth are needed. Governance challenges are significant, stemming from weak oversight of the resource sectors, a lack of transparency and a need to strengthen public financial management.
November 8, 2018
Mexico: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper on Mexico documents the composition, trends, and labor market implications of informality using data from the National Employment Survey (ENOE). Over half of the employed population has informal contractual relationships in Mexico both at formal and informal firms. Informality is found to be associated with lower levels of pay—even when accounting for worker composition differences—and lower wage growth over the life cycle. Policy drivers of this market duality, including minimum wage policy, are discussed. The results suggest that informality tends to select workers with lower earnings potential and limits their development. Informality indeed tends to be more prevalent among younger and less educated workers, for which better paid jobs are harder to come by. Moreover, it appears to lead workers toward a path of limited earnings and perhaps skill growth potential. Future labor market reforms should take a holistic approach that addresses both distributional concerns and formality barriers. One alternative is to reduce dependence on payroll taxes that are biased toward formal salaried workers while transitioning toward a social insurance system that provides good-quality services for all, irrespective of their salaried/nonsalaried status.