Estimating quasi-fiscal deficits in a consistency framework: the case of Madagascar

Philippe Le Houerou and Hector Sierra

No 1105, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: In practice, conventional measures of the fiscal deficit exclude the activities of public financial institutions. As a result, fiscal policies may be applied inappropriately when these institutions - especially the central bank - run large losses (the quasi-fiscal deficit). The macroeconomic effects of the quasi-fiscal deficit are similar to the effects of the deficit from other public entities - and should therefore be included in the public deficit. Conceptual and practical difficulties have so far precluded a definition of quasi-fiscal deficits that is operationally useful and comparable across countries. After studying the methodological and practical problems of treating quasi-fiscal deficits, the authors propose using a flow-of-funds format, which in principle could be standardized across countries. Using Madagascar as an example, they show that the public sector deficit is significantly undervalued if quasi-fiscal deficits are not considered. They contend that such deficits must be taken into account in assessing the success of adjustment problems and development strategies supported by the IMF and the World Bank.

Keywords: Economic Stabilization; Economic Theory&Research; Banks&Banking Reform; Environmental Economics&Policies; National Governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1993-02-28
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSC ... d/PDF/multi_page.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:1105

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20433. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Roula I. Yazigi ().