Making the Most of Public Investment in MENA and CCA Oil-Exporting Countries

Author/Editor:

Maria A Albino-War ; Svetlana Cerovic ; Francesco Grigoli ; Juan C Flores ; Javier Kapsoli ; Haonan Qu ; Yahia Said ; Bahrom Shukurov ; Martin Sommer ; SeokHyun Yoon

Publication Date:

November 12, 2014

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Disclaimer: This Staff Discussion Note represents the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent IMF views or IMF policy. The views expressed herein should be attributed to the authors and not to the IMF, its Executive Board, or its management. Staff Discussion Notes are published to elicit comments and to further debate.

Summary:

Over the past decade, rising oil prices have translated into high levels of public investment in most MENA and CCA oil exporters. This has prompted questions about the efficiency of public investment in generating growth and closing infrastructure gaps, as well as concerns about fiscal vulnerabilities. When public investment is inefficient, higher levels of spending may simply lead to larger budget deficits, without sufficiency increasing the quantity or quality of public infrastructure in support of economic growth. This paper examines the efficiency of public investment in the MENA and CCA oil exporters using several techniques, including a novel application of the efficiency frontier analysis, estimates of unit investment costs, and assessments of public investment processes. The analysis confirms that these oil exporters have substantial room to improve public investment efficiency. Reforms in the public financial and investment management systems are needed to achieve this objective.

Series:

Staff Discussion Notes No. 2014/010

Subject:

Notes:

Executive summary also available in Arabic.

English

Publication Date:

November 12, 2014

ISBN/ISSN:

9781498311397/2617-6750

Stock No:

SDNEA201410

Pages:

33

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