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Middle East and Central Asia > Kyrgyz Republic

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Cover IMF Working Papers
Remittances and Social Safety Nets During COVID-19: Evidence From Georgia and the Kyrgyz Republic
Nordine Abidi
,
Mehdi Akhbari
,
Bashar Hlayhel
, and
Sahra Sakha
Remittance flows in emerging market and developing economies were surprisingly resilient during the COVID-19 crisis, providing much-needed income support for remittance-receiving households. However, households were impacted differently across income distributions. Using novel high-frequency household panel data for Georgia and the Kyrgyz Republic and a difference-in-differences approach, we find that as household income fell during the pandemic, remittance-receiving households were more affected than non-remittance-receiving households. Importantly, we find that the incomes of poor, remittance-receiving households in the Kyrgyz Republic were more adversely affected than their non-remittance-receiving counterparts. In contrast, in Georgia, affluent remittance-receiving households experienced more significant income declines than poor remittance-receiving households. This heterogeneous impact can largely be explained by variations in the effectiveness of social safety nets in the two countries. Our results have important policy implications. Although remittances remained resilient during the pandemic, they affected households differently. As such, policymakers should prioritize addressing gaps in social safety nets to support the most vulnerable.
Keywords:
COVID-19; Remittances; Central Asia; remittance-receiving household; household income; remittance flow; households in Georgia; remittance-sending country; remittance receiver; Income; Social assistance spending; Income distribution; North America; Middle East and Central Asia; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust—Fifth Tranche of Debt Service Relief in The Context of The COVID-19 Pandemic
International Monetary Fund. Finance Dept.
,
International Monetary Fund. Legal Dept.
, and
International Monetary Fund. Strategy, Policy, & Review Department
The Executive Board approved a two-step approach consisting of (i) an immediate approval of the disbursement of a fourth tranche of debt service relief to all qualified beneficiary countries covering the period from October 16, 2021 through January 10, 2022, and (ii) consideration by January 2022 of a final tranche of CCRT debt service relief through April 13, 2022 based on a brief Board paper with an assessment of resources at that time. In accordance with the two-step approach, this paper provides a brief overview on recent developments in CCRT-eligible countries followed by an update on the CCRT’s funding status and resources assessment.
Keywords:
CCRT; debt service relief; CCRT instrument; CCRT debt service relief; CCRT resource; COVID cash buffer; Debt relief; Debt service; COVID-19; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust—Fourth Tranche of Debt Service Relief in The Context of The Covid-19 Pandemic and Approval of Additional Beneficiary Member Countries
International Monetary Fund
The paper provides brief updates for each CCRT-eligible country on its policy responses to the pandemic and on staff’s assessments of these policies, the use of resources freed up by debt service relief, and the implementation of governance safeguards commitments. The paper also provides an update on the financial situation of the CCRT. The generous support from 17 donor countries and the EU has mobilized SDR 609 million in new pledges since the onset of the pandemic.
Keywords:
debt service relief; CCRT country; fund engagement; CCRT debt relief; CCRT resource; Debt relief; Debt service; COVID-19; Balance of payments need; Global
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, October 2020, Middle East and Central Asia
Regional Economic Outlook, October 2020, Middle East and Central Asia
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Abstract

Countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAP) region and those in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with swift and stringent measures to mitigate its spread and impact but continue to face an uncertain and difficult environment. Oil exporters were particularly hard hit by a “double-whammy” of the economic impact of lockdowns and the resulting sharp decline in oil demand and prices. Containing the health crisis, cushioning income losses, and expanding social spending remain immediate priorities. However, governments must also begin to lay the groundwork for recovery and rebuilding stronger, including by addressing legacies from the crisis and strengthening inclusion.

Keywords:
public health; reopening; rebuilding; oil revenue; OPEC+; REO; oil exporter; MCD country; oil importer; IMF staff calculation; MCD firm; MCD region
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kyrgyz Republic: Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument and Disbursement under the Rapid Credit Facility-Press Release; and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This paper focuses on the Kyrgyz Republic’s Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument and Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has hit the Kyrgyz economy very hard and increased an already urgent balance of payments need. All sectors are being severely affected while measures are being taken to stop the spread of the virus. The IMF emergency support addresses the urgent balance of payments need, shores up confidence, and catalyzes donor support. In order to ensure that the financing provided is efficiently spent on addressing the crisis, the authorities have committed to strengthen procurement rules. The health care contingency plan and the initial package of economic measures already adopted by the authorities to provide health and economic relief are welcome, as is the second, larger, package of measures under preparation. In their attached letter of intent, the authorities remain committed to temporarily loosening macroeconomic and financial policies to finance health and economic relief and support a recovery. They have also made additional commitments to strengthen procurement rules, including steps to enhance transparency, to help ensure that financing received is efficiently spent on addressing the crisis.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; IMF emergency support; support; Executive Board discussion; enterprise; procurement rule; donor support; balance of payments gap; International reserves; Credit; Debt service; COVID-19
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, April 2020, Middle East and Central Asia
Regional Economic Outlook, April 2020, Middle East and Central Asia
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Abstract

Countries of the Middle East and Central Asia region have been hit by two large and reinforcing shocks, resulting in significantly weaker growth projections in 2020. In addition to the devastating toll on human health, the COVID-19 pandemic and the plunge in oil prices are causing economic turmoil in the region, with fragile and conflict affected states particularlyhard-hit given already large humanitarian and refugee challenges and weak health infrastructures. The immediate priority for policies is to save lives with needed health spending, regardless of fiscal space, while preserving engines of growth with targeted support to households and hard-hit sectors. In this context, the IMF has been providing emergency assistance to help countries in the region during these challenging times. Further ahead, economic recoveries should be supported with broad fiscal and monetary measures where policy space is available, and by seeking external assistance where space is limited.

Keywords:
REO; MENAP oil exporter; CCA oil exporter; financial support; exporter; IMF staff calculation; CCA region; CCA oil importer; MENAP oil importer; Oil prices; Oil; COVID-19; Fiscal stance; Health care; Global; Middle East and Central Asia; Middle East; North Africa; Central Asia and the Caucasus; financing needs
Cover IMF Working Papers
A Quality of Growth Index for Developing Countries: A Proposal
Mr. Montfort Mlachila
,
Rene Tapsoba
, and
Mr. Sampawende J Tapsoba
This paper proposes a new quality of growth index (QGI) for developing countries. The index encompasses both the intrinsic nature and social dimensions of growth, and is computed for over 90 countries for the period 1990-2011. The approach is premised on the fact that not all growth is created equal in terms of social outcomes, and that it does matter how one reaches from one level of income to another for various theoretical and empirical reasons. The paper finds that the quality of growth has been improving in the vast majority of developing countries over the past two decades, although the rate of convergence is relatively slow. At the same time, there are considerable cross-country variations across income levels and regions. Finally, emprirical investigations point to the fact that main factors of the quality of growth are political stability, public pro-poor spending, macroeconomic stability, financial development, institutional quality and external factors such as FDI.
Keywords:
WP; correlation matrix; composite index; final period; standard deviation; Quality of growth; social indicators; QGI score; benchmark QGI; QGI process; QGI dynamics; growth fundamentals; QGI value; QGI performance; Inclusive growth; Personal income; Income inequality; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kyrgyz Republic: Medium-Term Development Program: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
International Monetary Fund
This paper focuses on the Medium-Term Development Program for the Kyrgyz Republic. The aim of this program is to put the economy of the country into a sustainable vector of development and improve the budget status to prevent social effects, increase living standard, and reduce poverty in the country. Implementation of the reforms anticipated by the Program will help to reduce the State budget deficit, enhance the fight against corruption, improve living standards, and decrease social tension in the society.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; budget deficit; civil society; poverty level; customs union; development program; public-private partnership; living standard; economic development; natural resources; public finance; judicial system; Budget planning and preparation; Central Asia
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kyrgyz Republic: Medium-Term Development Program: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
International Monetary Fund
In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; budget deficit; civil society; poverty level; customs union; development program; public-private partnership
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kyrgyz Republic: Joint Staff Assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report
International Monetary Fund
The attached Joint Staff Assessment (JSA) of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report on the Kyrgyz Republic highlights the poverty diagnosis and macroeconomic framework. Poverty developments have been particularly encouraging in the rural areas, where the majority of Kyrgyzstan’s poor live, with a relatively larger reduction in the poverty level, and reductions in extreme poverty and expenditure inequality. The IMF staff welcomes the work initiated to improve costing and prioritization and poverty analysis.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; government; Kyrgyz authorities; policy; Kyrgyzstan; NPRS priority; core NPRS indicator; policy action plan; government of the Kyrgyz Republic; Poverty reduction strategy; Poverty reduction