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Middle East and Central Asia > Yemen, Republic of

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Cover IMF Working Papers
The Dynamic Effect of Social and Political Instability on Output: The Role of Reforms
Mr. Lorenzo E. Bernal-Verdugo
,
Davide Furceri
, and
Mr. Dominique M. Guillaume
The aim of this paper is to analyze the dynamic effect of social and political instability on output. Using a panel of up to 183 countries from 1980 to 2010, the results of the paper suggest that social conflicts have a significant and negative impact on output in the short-term with the magnitude of the effect being a function of the intensity of political instability. The results also show that the recovery of output over the medium-term depends on the ability of the country to implement, in the aftermath of a social instability episode, reforms aimed at improving the level of governance. The results are robust to different checks and estimation strategies.
Keywords:
WP; social conflicts; reforms; crisis; growth; governance indicator; adverse regime changes; governance reform; governance data; level of governance; political system; Production growth; Eastern Europe
Cover Policy Papers
Arab Countries in Transition - Economic Outlook and Key Challenges - Deauville Partnership Ministerial Meeting
International Monetary Fund
Arab Countries in Transition (ACTs) continue to face high political uncertainty and social pressures. The uprisings and protests have generated the promise of a better life for 300 million people, but forthcoming elections and constitutional reform, as well as populations anxious for jobs and higher incomes, complicate policymaking for many governments. At the same time, fiscal and reserves buffers have diminished sharply, underscoring the urgent need to maintain macroeconomic stability in an environment of sluggish global growth, high commodity prices, and still impaired domestic confidence. Resolute policy action and support from the international community are required; particularly as last year’s subdued growth in the ACTs (except Libya) is expected to improve only slightly in 2013 and is overshadowed by persistent external and regional risks. It will be equally important for policymakers to move quickly on designing and implementing effective structural reforms to build dynamic and inclusive economies that generate (many) more jobs than are available today. Promoting private-sector growth and international trade, as well as attracting foreign direct investment inflows, will be key components of success. Financial assistance and technical expertise from external partners, including Transition Fund projects, can make a big difference in this endeavor.
Keywords:
PP; government; price; financing; reform program; subsidy; coalition government; stabilization program; international community; authorities' stabilization program; home-grown program; unity government; acts government; Inflation; Government debt management; Current account deficits; Global; Europe
Cover IMF Working Papers
The Economics of Political Transitions: Implications for the Arab Spring
Padamja Khandelwal
and
Agustin Roitman
Over the past two years, ongoing political transitions in many Arab countries have led to social unrest and an economic downturn. This paper examines comparable historical episodes of political instability to derive implications for the near- and medium-term economic outlook in the Arab countries in transition. In general, past episodes of political instability were characterized by a sharp deterioration in macroeconomic outcomes and a sluggish recovery over the medium term. Recent economic developments in the Arab countries in transition seem to be unfolding along similar lines, although the weak external environment and large fiscal vulnerabilities could result in a prolonged slump.
Keywords:
WP; current account; government; deficit; IMF staff projection; Economic growth; political instability; Arab Countries in Transition; Arab Spring; government crisis; PI episode; E. exchange rates; regime change; country indices; inflation development; current account balance; currency depreciation; Fiscal stance; Inflation; Exchange rate flexibility; Current account deficits; Real effective exchange rates; Global; Africa; Eastern Europe
Cover IMF Working Papers
Measures of Fiscal Risk in Hydrocarbon-Exporting Countries
Carlos Caceres
and
Leandro Medina
The recent relatively high levels of global oil prices have led to a significant improvement in the public finances of several hydrocarbon-exporting countries. However, despite the increase in fiscal buffers, medium-term risks remain high. Fiscal vulnerabilities have increased as a consequence of the substantial spending packages that have been implemented in recent years. This has raised break-even prices—that is, the price levels that ensure that fiscal accounts are in balance at a given level of spending—in these countries. This study analyses such risks and develops measures of fiscal risk stemming from oil price fluctuations. An empirical application to hydrocarbon-exporting countries from the Middle East and North Africa region is included. Additionally, it is noted that countries with large net assets and proven oil reserves are much less vulnerable to fiscal risk than is indicated by standard measures based on break-even prices. 
Keywords:
WP; price; break-even price; break-even; oil price; Fiscal risk; stochastic simulations; oil prices; volatility; break-even prices; breakeven price; price change; price of oil; spot market; price of Brent; Commodity price fluctuations; Fiscal risks; Futures; Commodity prices; Middle East; North Africa; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Safeguards Assessments - 2012 Update
International Monetary Fund
The safeguards policy was introduced in 2000 to reduce the risks of misuse of Fund resources and misreporting of program monetary data to the Fund. It supports the Fund’s approach to prudent lending and complements other safeguards such as program design, conditionality, and access limits, to name a few. Some 242 assessments of 92 central banks have been completed since 2000. Assessments are followed by a period of monitoring for as long as Fund credit is outstanding.
Keywords:
PP; audit; control framework; risk management practice; sheet risk; fy; governance framework; ownership of change; External audit; Auditing; Central bank balance sheet; Central bank governance; Monetary statistics; Middle East and Central Asia; West Africa; Caribbean
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Yemen: Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility-Staff Report; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Yemen.
International Monetary Fund
Yemen is confronted with a range of difficult economic challenges. The reduction in oil revenues in the past year has affected the Yemeni economy through a set of direct and indirect channels. The loss of oil revenue contributed to a record fiscal deficit of about 10 percent of GDP in 2009, financed in large part by the central bank. The balance of payments was also put under considerable strain. The identified measures are home-grown and designed to have a long-lasting impact on the structure of the budget.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; equivalent to SDR; disbursement equivalent; public finance; priority reform; tax policy reform; exchange rate pressure; U.S. dollar; balance of payments; current account; broad money; Currencies; Fuel prices; Middle East; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Inflation Dynamics in Yemen: An Empirical Analysis
Abdullah Almounsor
Yemen has had a high and volatile rate of inflation in recent years. This paper studies the underlying determinants of inflation dynamics in Yemen using three different approaches: (i) a single equation model, (ii) a Structural Vector Autoregression Model, and (iii) a Vector Error Correction Model. The outcomes suggest that inflation dynamics in Yemen are driven by international price shocks, exchange rate depreciation, domestic demand shocks, and monetary innovations. The impact of international prices and exchange rate depreciation indicate a significant pass-through of import prices. In the short run, external shocks of international prices and the exchange rate account for most variations in inflation, but domestic shocks to money supply and domestic demand explain larger variations in the medium term.
Keywords:
WP; demand-pull inflation; inflation dynamics; Inflation; pass-through; domestic demand; and money supply; inflation response; inflation elasticity; variance inflation; inflation variation; inflation shock; inflation in Yemen; Monetary base; Exchange rates; Vector error correction models; Structural vector autoregression
Cover IMF Working Papers
Fiscal Policy in Oil Producing Countries During the Recent Oil Price Cycle
International Monetary Fund
This paper presents a detailed analysis of the average fiscal policy responses of oil producing countries (OPCs) to the recent oil price cycle. We find that OPCs worsened their non-oil primary balances substantially during 2003-2008 driven by an increase in primary spending. However, this trend was partially reversed when oil prices went down in 2009. We also find evidence that fiscal policy has been procyclical and has hence exacerbated the fluctuations in economic activity. In addition, we estimate that a small reduction in oil prices could lead to very large financing needs in the near future. Finally, we show that long-term fiscal sustainability positions in OPCs have worsened.
Keywords:
WP; oil price; price; revenue; Oil producing countries; fiscal policy; oil revenue; oil GDP; fiscal policy in OPCs; short-term fiscal policy stance; term perspective; fiscal policy position; fiscal policy shock; fiscal policy Procyclicality; fiscal policy change; investment expenditure; fiscal policy stance; low income OPCs; Oil prices; Fiscal stance; Oil; gas and mining taxes; Personal income; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Yemen: 2008 Article IV Consultation: Staff Report; Staff Statement and Supplement; Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Yemen
International Monetary Fund
Recent economic performance in Yemen has been mixed. A sharp decline in oil production, coupled with inflexible government expenditure and only marginal improvement in the tax-to-GDP ratio led to an overall fiscal deficit of 5.8 percent in 2007. Executive Directors have noted that Yemen’s non-oil GDP growth has been solid in recent years, and progress has been made on a number of structural reforms. Directors have welcomed the authorities’ commitment to reduce expenditure in the event that oil prices remain below the benchmark price in the 2009 budget.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; WEO oil price baseline; adjustment scenario; debt; deficit; oil; oil price; staff appraisal; private sector credit growth; staff projection; Oil prices; Inflation; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
A Primeron Fiscal Analysis in Oil-Producing Countries
Mr. Paulo A Medas
and
Ms. Daria V Zakharova
This paper proposes an integrated approach to fiscal policy analysis in oil producing countries (OPCs) geared towards addressing their unique and complex policy challenges. First, an accurate assessment of the fiscal stance in OPCs can be obscured by large and volatile oil revenue flows. Second, uncertain and volatile oil revenue flows can complicate the management of macroeconomic policies in these countries. Third, given the exhaustibility of oil reserves, OPCs need to address longer-term sustainability and intergenerational equity issues. The use of non-oil fiscal indicators, stress tests, medium-term frameworks, and permanent oil income models can greatly aid in addressing these challenges.
Keywords:
WP; oil revenue; oil price; fiscal policy analysis; medium term; annual budget; economic growth; policy response; fiscal policy; oil producing countries; resource revenue; expenditure quality; oil price volatility; oil GDP; oil price shock; oil revenue uncertainty; B. managing oil revenue volatility; expenditure volatility; WEO oil price; rate of return; revenue performance; Oil; gas and mining taxes; Oil prices; Fiscal stance; Middle East and Central Asia