Narrow Your Choices

Refine By Topic

Refine By Series

Refine By Language

Refine By Date

—

Refine By IMF Taxonomy

Refine By JEL Taxonomy

Refine by LOC Taxonomy

Refine By THEMA Taxonomy

  • Print
  • Save

Europe > Latvia, Republic of

You are looking at 1 - 7 of 7 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Finance, Public x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Latvia: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Latvia
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2023 Article IV Consultation highlights that Latvia is facing an inflation shock, slow growth, and geopolitical challenges. The government will have to continue to deal with the spillovers in the Baltic region from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the impact of sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus, the cost-of-living crisis, and energy security. These short-term concerns are adding to the long-term policy challenge of sustaining the income convergence process. Latvia’s income convergence has already been lagging the other Baltic countries. Amid high uncertainty, the balance of risks is tilted to the downside. The main risks stem from an escalation of the war and associated sanctions, which could result in renewed increases in energy prices, energy supply disruptions in Europe, and weaker external demand. Global financial conditions could further tighten, with spillovers to Latvian banks and domestic credit growth. The paper recommends that structural policies should facilitate the green transition, reduce skill shortages, and boost productivity.
Keywords:
income convergence; shock support measure; inflation shock; government finance statistics yearbook; inflation momentum; bank credit risk indicator; Inflation; Energy prices; Fiscal stance; Baltics; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Latvia: 2022 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff Report
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
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.
Keywords:
government finance statistics yearbook; green transition goal; financial asset; supply bottleneck; wage-price spiral; government finance statistics database; price pressure; World Bank-International Monetary Fund mission; General government operation; Energy prices; Inflation; Income; Baltics; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Latvia: Staff Report for the 2015 Article IV Consultation
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that Latvia’s strong recovery has recently slowed in the face of sluggish growth in the euro area and deteriorating economic conditions in Russia amid rising geopolitical tensions. GDP growth decelerated to 2.4 percent in 2014 reflecting weak demand and the prolonged closure of a steel manufacturer. In 2015, the weak external environment, particularly the sharp slowdown in Russia, will continue to weigh on exports and investment. This is expected to be mitigated, but not fully offset, by higher disposable income owing to lower oil prices and robust real wages, the reopening of the steel manufacturer, and the accommodative monetary stance of the European Central Bank.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; GDP; current account; Latvia; euro; financial asset; executive board assessment; consumer price inflation; exchange rate; fiscal policy; liability position vis-à-vis nonresident; headline inflation; structural unemployment; Income; Credit; Exports; Baltics
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Latvia: Staff Report for the 2014 Article IV Consultation
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
Latvia entered the euro area in January 2014 with the fastest rate of growth in Europe. The 2014 Article IV Consultation highlights that a slowdown in investment and exports was partly compensated by robust consumption demand, supported by rising real wages, bringing GDP growth in 2013 to 4.1 percent. Strong job creation reduced the unemployment rate to 11.3 percent by end-2013, close to its structural level. Consumer price inflation fell to an average of about zero in 2013, mainly owing to weakening energy prices. The 2013 general government deficit outturn of 1.0 percent of GDP was below the target of 1.4 percent.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; euro; Latvia; structural unemployment; balance of payments; deficit; GDP; requirement; non-resident deposits; sovereign bond bond issue; NRD banks' capital adequacy ratio; financial asset; consumer price inflation; Labor markets; Credit; Real wages; Baltics; Europe
Cover Policy Papers
2011 Review of Conditionality - Content and Application of Conditionality
International Monetary Fund
This paper reviews the design of conditionality in Fund-supported programs from 2002 to end-September 2011, with an emphasis on recent years. It focuses on the content and application of program conditionality—especially structural conditionality—in relation to the 2002 Conditionality Guidelines (the "Guidelines"), the Staff Statement on Principles Underlying the Guidelines on Conditionality, and subsequent revisions to operational guidance on conditionality. The analysis is based on the five key interrelated principles guiding the design of conditionality: national ownership of programs, parsimony in program-related conditions, tailoring to country circumstances, effective coordination with other multilateral institutions, and clarity in the specification of conditions. In particular, the principle of parsimony requires that program-related conditions be critical (or the minimum necessary) to achieve program objectives and goals, critical for monitoring program implementation, or necessary for implementing specific provisions under the Articles of Agreement (the "criticality criterion"). Beyond assessing compliance with these guidelines and principles, the paper also examines the implementation of conditionality
Keywords:
PP; PRGT program; country authorities; Fund staff; Fund-supported program; Fund condition; program Conditionality; program design; program objective; Fund conditionality; core area; program interruption; program approval; Gra program; Structural reforms; Public expenditure review; Government debt management; Financial sector; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Some Uncomfortable Arithmetic Regarding Europe’s Public Finances
Mrs. Delia Velculescu
Traditional fiscal indicators focused on measures of current deficits and debt miss the potentially important implications of current policies for future public finances. This could be problematic, including in the case of Europe, where population aging is expected to pose additional fiscal costs not captured by such indicators. To better gauge the state of public finances in the EU27 countries, this paper derives forward-looking fiscal measures of intertemporal net worth both directly from the European Commission’s Aging Working Group’s long-run indicators and using a comprehensive public-sector balance sheet approach. These measures could be used as an "early warning" mechanism and also as a communication device with the public. Current estimates indicate that, on existing policies, the intertemporal net worth of the EU27 is deeply negative, even in excess of its GDP level, and is projected to worsen further over time. This suggests that Europe’s current policies need to be significantly strengthened to bring future liabilities in line with the EU governments’ capacity to generate assets.
Keywords:
WP; country; GDP; deficit
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
The Republic of Latvia: Statistical Appendix
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; Latvia; budget; budget institution; commercial bank; exchange rate; economic activity; foreign currency; private sector; broad money; Budget planning and preparation; Agroindustries; Public sector; Commercial banks; Baltics; Middle East; Western Hemisphere; Central Asia; East Asia