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Business and Economics > Public Finance

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Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Malaysia: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
Malaysia’s economic performance has significantly improved in 2024, supported by strong domestic and external demand. Disinflation is taking hold and external pressures have eased. The favorable economic conditions provide a window of opportunity to build macroeconomic policy buffers and accelerate structural reforms, especially as risks to growth are tilted to the downside amid an uncertain global outlook. Risks to the inflation outlook are tilted to the upside, including from global commodity price shocks and potential wage pressures.
Keywords:
upside inflation risk; Malaysia's obligation; asset forfeiture regime; upside risk; upside growth risk; Inflation; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Credit; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Pension Reform and Stock Market Development
Shujaat Khan
,
Bo Li
, and
Yunhui Zhao
We highlight the strong connection between developing fully-funded, individually-owned, collectively-managed, mandatory/incentivized (FICMI) pension schemes and the development of domestic stock markets. We do so by building a stylized model and complementing the analysis with cross-country empirical analysis and case studies. We also highlight the challenges of individual impatience, network externalities, and coordination failure in long-term equity investments, which are crucial for stock market development and technological innovation. We find that FICMI pension schemes—when sufficiently wide in coverage and large in size—can serve as coordination devices to support long-term equity investments. Such investments will not only promote domestic stock market development and make it easier for firms to raise long-term equity capital, therefore supporting long-term economic growth, but also enhance financial inclusion and enable more households to benefit from the overall economic development, therefore contributing to inclusive growth. Moreover, we find that the introduction of FICMI pension schemes can impact household savings in two ways: first, FICMI pension can increase household savings through “forced/incentivized” savings channel, where households save too little without FICMI pension (such as in many EMDEs); and second, FICMI pension can decrease household savings and increase household consumption by reducing non-pension savings and decreasing precautionary savings, where households save too much without FICMI pension (such as in China). In both cases, FICMI pension schemes can help move the economy closer to the optimal level of household savings, and may also help improve the structure of such savings. Finally, we discuss the enabling conditions (such as a strong political commitment to the reform and a well-designed fiscal strategy for financing the transition) and policy design for FICMI pension schemes.
Keywords:
Pension Reforms; Stock Market Development; Equity Financing; Innovation' Financial Inclusion; Intertemporal Optimization; Public Pensions; Funded and Private Pensions; FICMI pension schemes; household saving; savings channel; IMF working paper No. 25/49; Pension spending; Pensions; Stock markets; Pension reform; Capital markets; East Asia
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Nicaragua: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Nicaragua
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
The Nicaraguan economy is experiencing robust growth. Real GDP growth accelerated to around 4½ percent in 2023 and the first half of 2024, from about 3.8 percent in 2022, on the back of robust domestic demand, while inflation is moderating. Prudent macroeconomic policies and record-high remittances sustained this performance, a decrease in the estimated poverty ratio, and also led to twin surpluses, a steady decline in debt, and the accumulation of strong buffers. Gross international reserves reached US$5.7 billion, or 7.2 months of imports, by end-October 2024. The economy remains open and resilient, after confronting multiple large shocks, and on a backdrop of transfers of private property to the state, international sanctions, and reorientation of official financing. Going forward, domestic and international political developments may impact economic performance, by potentially increasing the cost of doing business and impacting other cross-border flows.
Keywords:
update safeguard assessment; transmission mechanism; Policy coordination; safeguards recommendation; tax audit procedure; exports threshold; authority of the BCN; headline inflation; Public sector; Financial sector stability; Global; Central America; Caribbean
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Bolivia: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Bolivia
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
Economic activity has slowed reflecting falling natural gas production, lower public investment execution, financial volatility, and disruptions due to socio-political tensions. Bolivia’s inflation rate remains one of the lowest in the region, sustained by price controls and costly subsidies. The combination of sizable fiscal imbalances, declining natural gas exports, a loss of access to international markets, and the ongoing monetization of the deficit in the context of an exchange rate peg have eroded competitiveness, depleted reserves, and left Bolivia in a precarious position.
Keywords:
market exchange rate volatility; authorities' action; U.S. dollar; Bolivian authorities; government's measure; Public sector; International reserves; Inflation; Global; Caribbean
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Suriname: 2024 Article IV Consultation and the Eighth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Requests for Modification of Performance Criteria, Waivers of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Suriname
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
The authorities’ commitment to a range of policy reforms continues to strengthen macroeconomic stability. The economy is growing, inflation is receding, donor support is increasing, the public debt is declining, and international bond spreads are at historic lows. The Final Investment Decision (FID) to develop a large offshore oil field was announced on October 1. Moody’s has upgraded Suriname’s sovereign debt rating and changed the outlook to positive.
Keywords:
Surinamese authorities; tax authorities; debt sustainability outlook; recapitalization plan; B. data standard; governance reform agenda; policy priority; management framework; government procurement; Monetary base; International reserves; Exchange rates; Arrears; Caribbean
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
United Arab Emirates: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
The 2024 Article IV Consultation discusses that United Arab Emirates (UAE) economic growth remains strong, driven by robust domestic activity. Non-hydrocarbon growth has benefitted from healthy tourism flows and increased activity in the construction, manufacturing, and financial services sectors. The UAE has continued to experience strong capital inflows, reflecting commodity revenue, safe haven flows, and investment drawn by social and business-friendly reforms. This has boosted central bank foreign reserves and surplus domestic liquidity. Bank balance sheets have strengthened further, with capital buffers well above regulatory minima, and credit has continued to grow despite policy interest rate hikes. The outlook is subject to uncertainty and external risks, but large sovereign buffers help mitigate vulnerabilities. Intensification of geopolitical tensions and geoeconomics fragmentation, or an abrupt global slowdown, sharp correction in global asset prices, or commodity price volatility could lead to a reduction in the flow of goods, capital, and tourism.
Keywords:
government bond bond market; article IV consultation discussion; World bank relations; transparency policy; fund holdings of currency; Financial sector stability; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Financial statements; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Tonga: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Tonga
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
The 2024 Article IV Consultation discusses that Tonga’s economic activity has strengthened, bolstered by consistent remittance flows, continued tourism recovery, and robust construction activities. Inflationary pressures have substantially eased. After peaking at 14.1 percent in September 2022, headline inflation has since been normalizing. The near-term baseline economic outlook remains favorable appropriately supported by expansionary fiscal and monetary policy. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to accelerate to 2.4 percent in FY2025, mostly led by continued strength in domestic demand including large public investment projects and a rebound in agricultural output as the effects of El Nino dissipate. The medium-term growth prospects remain uneven, however. Tonga’s long-term growth is projected at 1.2 percent, reflecting its exposure to increasingly frequent natural disasters, persistent loss of workers to emigration, and limited economies of scale due to geographical barriers. Structural reforms with a focus on bolstering disaster resilience, advancing digital transformation, and strengthening governance frameworks to foster a conducive business environment are essential to meet Tonga’s developments goals.
Keywords:
priority safeguards assessment recommendation; Tonga authorities; reference rate; currency basket; intervention currency; Natural disasters; Debt sustainability analysis; Global; Pacific Islands; Australia and New Zealand
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kenya: Seventh and Eighth Reviews Under the Extended Fund Facility and Extended Credit Facility Arrangements, Requests for Reduction of Access, Augmentation and Rephasing of Access Under the Arrangements, Modifications of Performance Criteria, Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Review Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Kenya
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
This paper analyzes Kenya’s Seventh and Eighth Reviews under the Extended Fund Facility and Extended Credit Facility Arrangements, Requests for Reduction of Access, Augmentation and Rephasing of Access under the Arrangements, Modifications of Performance Criteria, Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement. Resolution of the exceptional external financing pressure earlier this year has revived market confidence, aided stabilization of the shilling, and enabled a faster buildup of foreign exchange reserves. However, large revenue shortfalls in FY2023/24 and pushback against revenue measures owing to governance concerns pose a challenge to the ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts. The Kenyan authorities face a difficult balancing act of boosting domestic revenues to protect critical spending in priority areas while meeting heavy debt service obligations. Delivering on this would call for improving governance and transparency to restore public trust in the effective use of public resources. Timely identification and deployment of fiscal contingency measures, as needed, maintaining prudent policies, recalibration of access, and a tailored capacity development strategy to help deliver on the reform agenda could somewhat help mitigate the elevated enterprise risks, including financial risks to the IMF. Success in climate finance mobilization efforts presents an upside to investments in climate resilience.
Keywords:
ECF arrangement; government initiative; implementation framework; Mombasa climate change action plan; ECF review; Debt sustainability analysis; Debt sustainability; Global; Africa
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, Sub-Saharan Africa, October 2024
Regional Economic Outlook, Sub-Saharan Africa, October 2024
Reforms amid Great Expectations
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.

Abstract

Sub-Saharan African countries are implementing difficult and much needed reforms to restore macroeconomic stability, and while overall imbalances have started to narrow, the picture is varied. Policymakers face three main hurdles. First, regional growth, at a projected 3.6 percent in 2024, is generally subdued and uneven, although it is expected to recover modestly next year to 4.2 percent. Second, financing conditions continue to be tight. Third, the complex interplay of poverty, scarce opportunities, and weak governance--compounded by a higher cost of living and short-term hardships linked to macroeconomic adjustment--are fueling social frustration. Within this environment, policymakers face a difficult balancing act in striving for macroeconomic stability while also working to address development needs and ensure that reforms are socially and politically acceptable. Protecting the most vulnerable from the costs of adjustment and realizing reforms that create sufficient jobs will be critical to mobilize public support.

Keywords:
Sub-Saharan Africa; Fiscal consolidation; Policy adjustment; Structural reforms; Macroeconomic imbalances; Growth; Inflation; Funding squeeze; Poverty; Governance; Social acceptability of reforms; Political pressures; Job creation; IMF staff calculation; IMF financing arrangement; headline inflation; balancing act; financing constraint; countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; Government debt management; Emerging and frontier financial markets; Global; Africa
Cover Fiscal Monitor, October 2024
Fiscal Monitor, October 2024
Putting a Lid on Public Debt
International Monetary Fund. Fiscal Affairs Dept.

Abstract

Global public debt is elevated. It is projected to exceed US$100 trillion in 2024 and will rise over the medium term. This chapter shows that risks to the debt outlook are heavily tilted to the upside. In a severely adverse scenario, global debt is estimated to be nearly 20 percentage points of GDP higher three years ahead than the baseline projection, reaching 115 percent of GDP. Much larger fiscal adjustments than currently planned are required to stabilize (or reduce) debt with high probability. Now is an opportune time for rebuilding fiscal buffers and delaying is costly. Rebuilding fiscal buffers in a growth-friendly manner and strengthening fiscal governance is essential to ensure sustainable public finances and financial stability.

Keywords:
public debt; debt-at-risk; sovereign yields; fiscal adjustment; fiscal framework; fiscal governance; unidentified debt; contingent liabilities; economy abbreviation; debt restructuring process; inflation expectation; growth resilience; debt vulnerability; emerging market economy; Fiscal consolidation; Fiscal stance; Government finance statistics; Public sector; Global; Caribbean; Asia and Pacific; North Africa; Middle East