Narrow Your Choices

Refine By Countries

Refine By Series

Refine By Language

Refine By Date

—

Refine By IMF Taxonomy

Refine By JEL Taxonomy

Refine by LOC Taxonomy

Refine By THEMA Taxonomy

  • Print
  • Save

Social Science > Poverty and Homelessness

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 21 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • International Lending and Debt Problems x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
South Africa: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
This Selected Issues paper analyzes impact of debt on growth in South Africa. A permanent increase of four percentage points of gross domestic product (GDP) in national government expenditure underlies the doubling of public debt in the last decade. The wage bill accounted for most of the expenditure increase (64 percent), followed by the interest bill (23 percent). The debt expansion, thus, financed a countercyclical fiscal policy centered on current spending, which likely shielded the impact of subdued economic activity, but had limited permanent effects on growth. Had resources devoted to wage increases and debt service payments been invested in more productive outlays, such as highly productive capital expenditure and reforms in key network industries, the growth gains would have been higher. The spending increase that drove the large debt accumulation helped smooth the impact of the global financial crisis, but likely did not have a material impact on growth.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; GDP; debt; income; IMF staff estimate; market income; inequality level; income distribution; FAD expenditure assessment tool; Income inequality; Personal income; Income distribution; Africa; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Panama: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This Selected Issues paper assesses the effectiveness of Panama's fiscal framework. The fiscal framework of Panama has played an important role in enhancing fiscal discipline since its establishment in 2009. Since the current fiscal framework went into effect in 2009, the primary balance and debt-to-GDP ratio of the nonfinancial public sector have improved significantly on average compared with those in 2000–08. The fiscal impulse given the output gap also shows that fiscal policy was less procyclical in 2009–15 than in 2001–08. However, there are options to better align the framework with best practice, including reducing unintended procyclicality, increasing transparency, and improving accountability.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Panama; bank; liquidity; poverty rate; income; transportation cost; growth performance; deficit ceiling; banking center; shipping industry; Offshore financial centers; Liquidity requirements; Fiscal governance; Global; Caribbean; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Colombia: 2011 Article IV Consultation: Staff Report; Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Colombia
International Monetary Fund
The Colombian economy proved resilient to the global financial crisis, and a solid recovery is under way. The pace of monetary tightening envisaged strikes the right balance between restraining credit growth and mitigating incentives for further capital inflows. A sudden acceleration of domestic demand places an additional burden on monetary policy. Colombia’s financial sector oversight is solid, and plans to strengthen cross-border and consolidated supervision are commended. Steep taxation of labor and a relatively high minimum wage are significant hindrances to competitiveness. Colombia’s exchange restrictions remain unchanged.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; inflation expectation; government; deficit; GDP; Colombian authorities; labor market informality; inflation pressure; exchange regime; Public sector; Energy subsidies; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Central African Republic: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: Preparation Status Report: Joint Staff Advisory Note
International Monetary Fund
The status report on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of the Central African Republic showed substantial progress. IMF staff welcomed peace and security consolidation and strong macroeconomic framework under the economic program. They emphasized the need for strengthening the linkages between some of the sectoral and national strategies. They stressed the need for a strategy for monitoring and evaluation of the system, and financing to implement the strategy. They concur that success of the PRSP will be a challenge amidst security issues and financial constraints.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Poverty ReductionStrategy Paper; preparation progress status report; constraint; objectives inthe PRSP; draft PRSP; preparation process; poverty reduction strategy paper; Poverty reduction strategy; Capacity utilization; Macro-fiscal framework; Concessional external borrowing
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Armenia: Fourth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion: Staff Report; and Press Release on the Executive Board Consideration
International Monetary Fund
This paper discusses key findings of the Fourth Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for Armenia. Armenia’s economy performs strongly. All end-December 2006 quantitative and all but one structural performance criteria were observed. The main policy challenges are to broaden economic growth, raise tax revenues, and manage large foreign exchange inflows. Fiscal policy remains appropriate. Meeting the ambitious 2007 revenue target will require broadening the tax base and strengthening administration. The stance of monetary policy is appropriate.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; PRGF loan; PRGF arrangement; PRGF-supported program; government plan; government finance statistics yearbook; Monetary base; Exchange rates; Eastern Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Cambodia: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix
International Monetary Fund
The Selected Issues paper discusses Cambodia’s poverty and growth, private sector development, public financial management reform, and debt sustainability. It summarizes the Poverty Assessment and describes the regime of tax incentives, costs, and limits for private investment. It also summarizes the assessment of Cambodia’s Public Expenditure Management system and Public Financial Management Reform Program. It highlights the key reform priorities, and provides historical background on Cambodia’s external and domestic debt. It also includes a statistical appendix and a summary of the tax system.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Cambodia; poverty incidence; debt; government; poverty estimate; poverty reduction; investment incentive; poverty assessment; public expenditure management system; further poverty reduction; Tax holidays; Tax incentives; Southeast Asia; Eastern Europe; Asia and Pacific; Mekong; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Armenia: Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and Request for Waiver of Performance Criterion
International Monetary Fund
The staff report for the Second Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility focuses on the Republic of Armenia’s economic environment and policy discussion. Financial sector reforms will focus on improving corporate governance, strengthening regulation and supervision, and deepening financial intermediation. Price developments should be monitored closely and monetary policy tightened further should inflation pressures increase. The authorities’ plan to subsidize the local gas supplier to limit gas tariff increases for end-users is cause for concern.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; PRGF loan; PRGF arrangement; PRGF-supported program; SDR; banking system; poverty rate; Monetary base; Exchange rates; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Nepal: 2005 Article IV Consultation—Staff Report; Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Nepal
International Monetary Fund
This 2005 Article IV Consultation highlights that Nepal’s economic growth has been affected by the political turmoil and conflict, although inflation has remained moderate, and international reserves are adequate. Real GDP growth averaged 2 percent during 2000/01–2004/05, compared with the 1990s when growth in agricultural productivity and significant trade liberalization contributed to average real GDP growth of 5 percent. Inflation has remained in the low single digits, although it rose to 7¾ percent in mid-October 2005. The overall and domestically financed deficits remained limited in 2004/05.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; government; arrears; spending; exchange rate; broad money; private sector; Nepalese authorities; authorities request; implementation strategy; Budget planning and preparation; South Asia; Global; East Asia; Asia and Pacific
Cover IMF Working Papers
Foreign Aid Policy and Sources of Poverty: A Quantitative Framework
Mr. Alex Mourmouras
and
Mr. Peter Rangazas
The econometric literature has been unable to establish a robust association between foreign aid and growth and poverty reduction. In this paper we argue that aid effectiveness must be assessed using methods that go beyond cross-country regressions. We calibrate a dynamic general equilibrium model that is capable of generating large income gaps between rich and poor countries. The model quantifies three sources of poverty: (i) lack of access to international capital, (ii) low schooling and high fertility (a poverty trap), and (iii) antigrowth domestic fiscal policy. We analyze policies designed to address each source of poverty and estimate and compare the aid cost of implementing the different policies. The policies differ dramatically in the extent and timing of their growth effects, and in the aid cost of their implementation.
Keywords:
WP; open economy; poverty trap; foreign aid policy; growth; poverty; schooling; fertility; capital mobility; worker productivity; fiscal policy difference; productivity variable; physical capital difference; B. worker productivity difference; worker productivity difference; physical capital accumulation; productivity gap; anti-growth fiscal policy; spreads saving; fiscal policy reform; saving flow; Capital productivity; Productivity; Africa; Global
Cover Policy Papers
United Republic of Tanzania - Staff Assessment of Qualification for the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative
International Monetary Fund
Tanzania reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative on November 21, 2001. Staff is of the view that all criteria have been met, and recommends that the Board determine that Tanzania qualifies for immediate debt relief under the MDRI.
Keywords:
PP; second generation PRSP; GDP; fund arrangement; government commitment; Debt relief; Public and publicly-guaranteed external debt