The six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)--Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates--have made important progress toward economic and financial integration, with the aim of establishing an economic and monetary union. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the economic performance and policies of the GCC countries during 1990-2002. Drawing on the lessons from the experience of selected currency and monetary unions in Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, it assesses the potential costs and benefits of a common currency for GCC countries and also reviews the options for implementing a monetary union among these countries.



Deflation

by Manmohan S Kumar and etc.

Published 30 June 2003
This paper presents the findings of an IMF task force set up to investigate issues related to the causes and consequences of deflation, as well as the the risks in individual economies and on a global scale. It focuses on four aspects: an analytical framework regarding the measurement, determinants, and costs of deflation; historical experiences of deflationary pressures in the nineteenth century and during the Great Depression, along with the recent experience of Japan and China; risk assessment issues; and policy options available.

Could Do Better

by Michael Beenstock and etc.

Published March 1982






Demand Over Time

by R. East and etc.

Published March 1992