Government Subsidies: Concepts, International Trends, and Reform Options
IMF Working Papers, September 1, 1995
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- Canonical URL
- Government Subsidies: Concepts, International Trends, and Reform Options
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Gerd Schwartz, Réjane Hugounenq, Benedict J. Clements
- Published: September 1, 1995
- Series: IMF Working Papers
Authors and Publication
- By Gerd Schwartz, Réjane Hugounenq, Benedict J. Clements
- September 1, 1995
- IMF Working Papers 1995, 091 (1995)
- Pages: 58
- Volume: 1995
- Issue: 091
- Series: Working Paper No. 1995/091
- Stock No: WPIEA0911995
- ISBN: 9781451851489
- ISSN: 1018-5941
Scope and Objectives
- Addresses problems of defining and measuring government subsidies.
- Examines why and how government subsidies are used as a fiscal policy tool.
- Assesses economic effects of government subsidies.
- Appraises international empirical evidence on government subsidies.
- Offers options for reform, focusing on improving cost-effectiveness of subsidy programs.
- Recent international trends analyzed for the 16-year period from 1975 to 1990.
Data and Methodology
- Uses general government subsidy data for 60 countries from the System of National Accounts (SNA).
- Uses central government expenditure on subsidies and other current transfers for 68 countries from Government Finance Statistics (GFS).
Key Findings and Analytical Focus
- Reviews international empirical evidence on government subsidies over 1975–1990.
- Analyzes subsidy expenditure trends using SNA and GFS data across multiple country samples.
- Focuses on measurement and definitional challenges that affect cross-country comparisons and policy assessment.
- Emphasizes economic effects of subsidies and the fiscal implications for government budgets.
Policy Options and Recommendations
- Reviews major policy options for subsidy reform.
- Focuses on ways to improve the cost-effectiveness of subsidy programs.
- Considers reforms informed by empirical evidence and measurement improvements to better target fiscal support.
Subject Areas and Keywords
- Subject: Budget planning and preparation; Economic and financial statistics; Expenditure; Government finance statistics; Government subsidies; National accounts; Public financial management (PFM)
- Keywords: Africa; Budget planning and preparation; cash subsidy; consumer subsidy equivalent; East Africa; Eastern Europe; GDP ratio; Government finance statistics; Government subsidies; government subsidy; Middle East; North Africa; SNA subsidy data; subsidy expenditure; subsidy practice; subsidy program; WP
Source: IMF Working Paper "Government Subsidies: Concepts, International Trends, and Reform Options" (1995/091).