01772cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF017987 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781484323090 1934-7685 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept. The Bahamas : 2017 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2017. 1 online resource (71 pages) IMF Staff Country Reports <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights the continued weak economic activity in The Bahamas in 2016. Hurricane Matthew, which hit The Bahamas in October 2016, significantly impacted tourism activity in 2016 and early 2017. However, completion of the megaresort Baha Mar and posthurricane reconstruction activity gave a boost to job creation: the unemployment rate declined to 9.9 percent in May 2017. Real GDP growth is projected to pick up to 1.75 percent in 2017 and to 2.5 in 2018, driven by a stronger US economy, the phased opening of Baha Mar, and related construction activity. However, medium-term growth would remain low, reflecting significant structural bottlenecks. Mode of access: Internet IMF Staff Country Reports; Country Report ; No. 2017/314 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/002/2017/314/002.2017.issue-314-en.xml IMF e-Library