Some Uncomfortable Arithmetic Regarding Europe’s Public Finances

Some Uncomfortable Arithmetic Regarding Europe’s Public Finances PDF Author: Mrs.Delia Velculescu
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 145520188X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 34

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Book Description
Traditional fiscal indicators focused on measures of current deficits and debt miss the potentially important implications of current policies for future public finances. This could be problematic, including in the case of Europe, where population aging is expected to pose additional fiscal costs not captured by such indicators. To better gauge the state of public finances in the EU27 countries, this paper derives forward-looking fiscal measures of intertemporal net worth both directly from the European Commission’s Aging Working Group’s long-run indicators and using a comprehensive public-sector balance sheet approach. These measures could be used as an "early warning" mechanism and also as a communication device with the public. Current estimates indicate that, on existing policies, the intertemporal net worth of the EU27 is deeply negative, even in excess of its GDP level, and is projected to worsen further over time. This suggests that Europe’s current policies need to be significantly strengthened to bring future liabilities in line with the EU governments’ capacity to generate assets.

Some Uncomfortable Arithmetic Regarding Europe’s Public Finances

Some Uncomfortable Arithmetic Regarding Europe’s Public Finances PDF Author: Mrs.Delia Velculescu
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 145520188X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 34

Get Book Here

Book Description
Traditional fiscal indicators focused on measures of current deficits and debt miss the potentially important implications of current policies for future public finances. This could be problematic, including in the case of Europe, where population aging is expected to pose additional fiscal costs not captured by such indicators. To better gauge the state of public finances in the EU27 countries, this paper derives forward-looking fiscal measures of intertemporal net worth both directly from the European Commission’s Aging Working Group’s long-run indicators and using a comprehensive public-sector balance sheet approach. These measures could be used as an "early warning" mechanism and also as a communication device with the public. Current estimates indicate that, on existing policies, the intertemporal net worth of the EU27 is deeply negative, even in excess of its GDP level, and is projected to worsen further over time. This suggests that Europe’s current policies need to be significantly strengthened to bring future liabilities in line with the EU governments’ capacity to generate assets.

The Euro Area and the Financial Crisis

The Euro Area and the Financial Crisis PDF Author: Miroslav Beblavý
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139503634
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The financial crisis of 2007–10 has presented a number of key policy challenges for those concerned with the long-term stability of the euro area. It has shown that price stability as provided by the European Central Bank is not enough to guarantee financial stability, and exposed fault lines in governance and deficiencies in the architecture of the financial supervisory and regulatory framework. This book addresses these and other issues, including why the crisis affected some countries more than others, whether the euro is still attractive for new EU states, and what policy changes and structural reforms, both macro and micro, should be undertaken to ensure its future viability. Written by a team of leading academic and central bank economists, the book also includes chapters on the cross-country incidence of the crisis, the Irish crisis and ECB monetary policy during the crisis, and studies on Spain, the Baltics, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Defining the Government’s Debt and Deficit

Defining the Government’s Debt and Deficit PDF Author: Mr.Timothy Irwin
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 151354750X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
Although the budget deficit and the public debt feature prominently in political debate and economic research, there is no agreement about how they should be measured. They can be defined for different sets of public institutions, including the nested sets corresponding to central government, general government, and the public sector, and, for any definition of government, there are many measures of the debt and deficit, including those generated by four kinds of accounts (cash, financial, full accrual, and comprehensive), which can be derived from four nested sets of assets and liabilities. Each debt and deficit measure says something about public finances, but none tells the whole story. Each is also vulnerable to manipulation, and is likely to be manipulated if it is subject to a binding fiscal rule or target. Narrow definitions of government encourage the shifting of spending to entities outside the defined perimeter of government. Narrow definitions of debt and deficit encourage operations involving off-balance-sheets assets and liabilities, while broad measures are susceptible to the mismeasurement of on-balance-sheet assets and liabilities. Reviewing the literature on these issues, the paper concludes that governments should publish several measures of the debt and deficit in a form that clearly reveals their interrelationships.

A Collection of Surveys on Savings and Wealth Accumulation

A Collection of Surveys on Savings and Wealth Accumulation PDF Author: Edda Claus
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119158389
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description
In this collection of critical surveys the reader is provided with a range of up-to-date work from some of the leading scholars in the area, writing on private and public sector aspects of savings and wealth accumulation. A survey of savings and wealth accumulation which are important dimensions of research and policy debates Discusses the measurement of genuine savings and sustainability, the estimation of wealth inequality, and recent developments in consumer credit and defaults Evaluates the impact of student loans on financial well-being, people’s retirement decisions, and the impact of pension reform Considers the distribution of wealth across generations and the importance of accurately measuring government debt, the rise of sovereign wealth funds and Islamic banking and finance

How to Assess Fiscal Implications of Demographic Shifts

How to Assess Fiscal Implications of Demographic Shifts PDF Author: Mr.David Amaglobeli
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 147554295X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
Over the next few decades, the world will experience significant demographic shifts, with material fiscal implications. In many advanced and emerging market economies, aging populations will lead to higher spending on pensions and health care. Moreover, projected population dynamics will adversely affect growth and government revenues. Building on and extending a 2015 IMF Staff Discussion Note by Clements and others, this note presents a simple framework that can assist researchers in quantifying the effects of demographic changes resulting from population aging on government fiscal balances. It includes two country applications of the framework and an associated template. The note addresses several key questions: What are channels through which demographic changes could affect public finances? How can we quantify the fiscal impact of demographic changes? How can we tailor the assessment to country-specific circumstances?

Toward A Sustainable and Inclusive Consolidation in Lithuania

Toward A Sustainable and Inclusive Consolidation in Lithuania PDF Author: Ms.Nan Geng
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1475568851
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 18

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Book Description
This paper reviews Lithuania’s fiscal consolidation since 2009, assesses the contribution of revenue and expenditure to the consolidation, evaluates the quality of measures, and draws lessons for the future. It finds that, despite having the lowest revenue-to-GDP ratio in the EU, Lithuania’s fiscal adjustment has so far relied mainly on expenditure measures, with the quality of measures deteriorating over time. The analysis also suggests that Lithuania’s tax system, in comparison with other EU countries and regional peers, is skewed toward labor and consumption taxes, and plays a more limited role in income redistribution, especially in the upper income brackets. The paper argues therefore that there is ample scope to implement high quality revenue measures in order to complete the fiscal adjustment in the medium term in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

Handbook of Research on Public Finance in Europe and the MENA Region

Handbook of Research on Public Finance in Europe and the MENA Region PDF Author: Erdo?du, M. Mustafa
Publisher: IGI Global
ISBN: 1522500545
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 652

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Book Description
Since the 1970s, globalization has created an economic environment of interdependency between nations. Now, many countries in European and the MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa) regions must grapple with the need to increase public revenue while maneuvering through a global “race-to-the-bottom” tax competition. The Handbook of Research on Public Finance in Europe and the MENA Region explores economic development and public finance by providing critical insight into the use of public finance and policy and illuminating the intricacies of these topics through discussion of theory, empirical work, and policy objectives. This book is ideally designed for business professionals, policy makers, financers, students and researchers in the fields of public policy and economics.

A Fiscal Indicator for Assessing First and Second Pillar Pension Reforms

A Fiscal Indicator for Assessing First and Second Pillar Pension Reforms PDF Author: Mauricio Soto
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 146392657X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
Staff Discussion Notes showcase the latest policy-related analysis and research being developed by individual IMF staff and are published to elicit comment and to further debate. These papers are generally brief and written in nontechnical language, and so are aimed at a broad audience interested in economic policy issues. This Web-only series replaced Staff Position Notes in January 2011.

From Reform to Growth

From Reform to Growth PDF Author: Vít Novotný
Publisher: Eburon Uitgeverij B.V.
ISBN: 9059727517
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 546

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Book Description
The global economic crisis that began in 2007 has posed huge challenges for European citizens and governments. The crisis has shown that the financial sector has not been adequately regulated and supervised, that governments and individuals have overspent, and that European economies are suffering from structural problems. This book, a collaboration between the Centre for European Studies and its member foundations, assesses government responses to the crisis at the national, EU and regional levels, and also offers policy recommendations. Governments should work with one another and with EU institutions to improve bank supervision and regulatory mechanisms. They should undertake fiscal consolidation measures, bearing in mind that government deficits and debt incur costs that burden future generations. Finally, they should undertake structural reforms such as creating flexible labour markets, increasing the retirement age and shaping efficient public institutions.

Republic of Poland

Republic of Poland PDF Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 145520255X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
The Selected Issues paper on Poland underlies that as the only European Union economy to avoid outright recession during the crisis, Poland is likely to attract renewed risk appetite. Poland could become one of the main recipients of capital inflows. This could lead to excessive exchange-rate appreciation, which would undermine competitiveness. The volatility of capital flows into Poland has been lower during both the boom and crisis periods, in part owing to timely introduction in the boom period of countercyclical macroprudential measures.