Latest IMF report praises the economy, but warns of public finance problem

According to the report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the world economy is evidently in a better condition than it was a year ago. However, this does not mean that one can produce an optimistic forecast. Poland has been positively evaluated in the report, but stress was placed on the necessity for the country to carry out a thorough reform of public finances. Poland is reported to have recorded the fastest GDP growth in the region. IMF forecasts that growth will reach 2.9% this year and 4.1% in 2004. The authors of the report point to the good and healthy foundations of the economy, with inflation under control, which in turn led to falling interest rates. The result has been increased investments, an upturn in production and growing exports. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) A.Z.