Country Reports
2022
August 23, 2022
Republic of Latvia: 2022 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff Report
Description: The economy fared relatively well during the pandemic, but the war in Ukraine is another major shock. The key vulnerabilities are Latvia’s significant reliance on imported gas from Russia until recently, the impact of high international energy prices on inflation and economic activity, and refugee inflows. Thus far, almost 33,000 refugees have entered Latvia. Parliamentary elections later this year may put pressure on the government budget.
August 22, 2022
Panama: Second Review Under the Arrangement Under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Panama
Description: Despite continuing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and new risks emanating from global uncertainties, a combination of sound policy measures and a resolute vaccination program have supported a gradual return to normality and underpin a rebound in economic activities. External imbalances remain contained, and fiscal consolidation is underway as the authorities are adhering to the fiscal rule, which ensures a declining path for the public debt to GDP ratio. While the outlook is favorable, it remains subject to elevated risks, including global uncertainties arising from the war in Ukraine, faster-than-expected US monetary tightening, tighter global financial conditions, higher crude oil prices, and new variants of the COVID-19 virus that may derail the recovery. Domestic risks include significant delays in implementing the FATF action plan to exit the grey list.
August 17, 2022
Saudi Arabia: 2022 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: Saudi Arabia is recovering strongly from the pandemic-induced recession. Higher oil prices provide an opportunity for accelerating further the strong reform drive brought about under Vision 2030.
August 16, 2022
Germany: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Crisis Management and Financial Safety Nets
Description: Much progress on resolution planning and preparedness has been achieved since the last FSAP in 2016. Germany’s resolution planning is well advanced, with resolution powers broadly in line with best practice and well-developed internal resolution processes. However, the large weight of Less Significant Institutions (LSIs) in Germany’s financial sector calls for further progress on planning for crisis management for smaller banks and the institutional protection schemes (IPSs) of which they are members.
August 16, 2022
Germany: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Stress Testing, Interconnectedness, and Risk Analysis
Description: The financial sector weathered COVID relatively well on the back of high pre-crisis capital and liquidity buffers, strong public and private sector balance sheets, and unprecedented public and ECB support. Immediate risks to Germany’s financial stability of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine appear to be manageable due to the banks’ limited direct exposures to Russia. However, risks associated with the economic fallout could impact some individual financial institutions, non-performing loans, and house prices. Real GDP growth was projected to regain momentum from mid-2022 onwards, but the war could hinder the recovery through supply constraints, higher-than-expected above-target inflation (with higher energy prices and supply constraints), a tightening of financial conditions, and shifts in investors’ confidence.
August 16, 2022
Germany: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-The Determinants of Bank Profitability
Description: German bank profitability is low by international standards. Although German banks rank more favorably in risk-adjusted terms, as low profitability is partially compensated by lower volatility of returns, their profitability ratios remain low. On other measures (such as returns on assets, equity, and risk-weighted assets), German banks, on aggregate, rank among the least profitable in Europe. Several factors affect bank profitability, including a complex tiered industry structure with barriers to entry and an explicit mandate of a large part of the banking system – cooperative and savings banks – to maximize welfare of stakeholders rather than profits.
August 11, 2022
Kingdom of the Netherlands-Curaçao and Sint Maarten: 2022 Article IV Consultation Discussions-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: The economies of Curaçao and Sint Maarten are recovering from the pandemic but facing multiple challenges, including spillovers from the war in Ukraine. Curaçao was in a protracted recession even before the pandemic due to spillovers from the Venezuelan crisis. Sint Maarten needs to fully recover not only from the pandemic, but also from the devastating 2017 hurricanes.
August 5, 2022
United Republic of Tanzania: Request For a 40- Month Arrangement Under The Extended Credit Facility —Press Release; Staff Report; And Statement By The Executive Director For The United Republic Of Tanzania
Description: Tanzania’s economy is gradually recovering from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While IMF emergency financing (0.8 percent of GDP) in 2021 helped address fiscal pressures, preserve stability, and finance the authorities’ COVID-19 economic and health response, Tanzania continues to face development and reform challenges to unleash its economic potential. The authorities are seeking renewed Fund assistance to support the country facing protracted balance of payments needs associated with the two external shocks—the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine—and to support the authorities’ reform agenda summarized in their Five-Year Development Plan.
August 4, 2022
Cameroon: Second Reviews Under The Extended Credit Facility And The Extended Fund Facility Arrangements, And Requests For Waivers For Performance Criteria Applicability And Modification Of Performance Criterion—Press Release; Staff Report; And Statement By The Executive Director For Cameroon
Description: Following two years of COVID-19 challenges, Cameroon, the largest economy in the Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), is facing a new policy environment. The nascent economic recovery from mid-2021, supported by higher oil prices and non-oil production, is now subject to greater uncertainties with spillovers from the war in Ukraine, high inflationary pressures, especially on food and fuel prices, and a tightening of global financial conditions. Low vaccination rates also leave the country vulnerable to further COVID-19 waves. In July 2021, the IMF’s Executive Board approved three-year arrangements under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for SDR 483 million (about US$689.5 million, or 175 percent of Cameroon’s quota) to support the country’s economic and financial reform program.