Contingent liabilities have gained prominence in the analysis of public finance. Indeed, history is full of episodes in which the financial position of the public sector is substantially altered-or its true nature uncovered-as a result of government bailouts of financial or nonfinancial...

This paper examines the merits of the British budget management system that was inherited in Anglophone African countries and which has changed substantially in the United Kingdom since the 1960s. It considers whether the disappointing budgetary performance in Africa is due to weaknesses in the...

This report provides an assessment of fiscal transparency practices in Portugal against the requirements of the IMF Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency. IMF staff observed that Portugal meets the requirements of fiscal transparency code in several areas. Significant progress has also...

This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) focuses on the Second Annual Progress Report for Zambia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The government’s strategy to reduce poverty focuses on promoting economic growth through macroeconomic stabilization and diversification and...

Togo's macroeconomic situation remained difficult owing to its political uncertainty, falling cotton prices, and continued problems in phosphate production under the Staff-Monitored Program. Executive Directors stressed the need to improve fiscal stance, address structural issues, and reinforce...

In the social sectors, encouraging results were obtained in education. The Ten-Year Education Program was finalized, creating a solid basis for the implementation of actions in this sector. According to the most recent estimates, the basic enrolment rate was 41.7 percent in 2002 compared with...

This paper develops indices of fiscal transparency for a broad range of countries based on the IMF's Code of Good Practices on Fiscal Transparency, using data derived from published fiscal transparency modules of the Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSCs). The indices covers...

The paper provides an assessment of poverty and inequality on the basis of the data gathered from the most recent surveys. The vision of state and nonstate actors as well as the challenges to be met by 2015 was outlined; the paper also summarizes the major areas of work decided upon by the...

This report provides a reassessment of fiscal transparency practices in Mozambique. The reassessment is conducted against the results of Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes (ROSC) on fiscal transparency, which identified serious transparency shortcomings and updates of the ROSC,...

This Technical Assistance Report for Mali examines the performance of its public expenditure management system. The IMF report suggests that payments arrears can possibly be monitored overtime through the financial management system (PRED), based on the validation of invoices. The principle of...