Resources

This report analyzes the background of the Tunisian revolution and the outstanding challenges ahead for policy-makers. The first section examines why the social contract under the former government became unsustainable and how increasing governance problems affected...Read More

This paper investigates the effect of the large depreciation on household welfare operating through exchange rate-induced changes in consumer prices. Read More

This report draws on a variety of international data sources and uses international benchmarking against reference group averages, comparator countries, and statistical norms to identify major constraints, trends, and opportunities for strengthening growth and reducing...Read More

In some approaches to discussion and practice of Public Financial Management (PFM) reform in developing countries, reforms are inspired by a comparison of current systems, as compared to an ideal state, often only found in wealthy countries. Reform programmes are...Read More

The report focuses on how the G20 can contribute to strengthening the enabling environment in which tax systems can be developed, building on the extensive work that has already been done by multilateral institutions and bilateral donors. It is not a comprehensive plan...Read More

This paper critically reviews recent work regarding the sustainability of public debt. It argues that Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSAs) should be more than mere mechanical simulation exercises. Instead, a DSA should be linked to some objective regarding the...Read More

This paper provides: (i) the most comprehensive estimates of energy subsidies currently available for 176 countries; and (ii) an analysis of ―how to do energy subsidy reform, drawing on insights from 22 country case studies undertaken by IMF staff and analyses carried...Read More

This paper’s main objective is to examine whether fiscal policy in the pre-revolution Egypt has been systematically affected by the political budget cycle (PBC). According to the PBC theory, we should not find evidence of electoral manipulation of the economy, since...Read More

The report includes: (1) Discussion of the scope of energy subsidies; (2) Estimates of energy subsidies, and identification of the gaps in the existing data and issues around the measurement of energy subsidies; (3) Modelling-based analysis of the implications of...Read More

This paper argues that a reform of energy pricing mechanisms in the Arab world may be seen as beneficial from more than one perspective, and as offering potential paths for reform. Nevertheless, it recognizes that the current political climate in the region will render...Read More