IMF Working Papers

Suggestions for Alternative Measures of Budget Balance for South Africa

By Davina F. Jacobs

June 1, 2002

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Davina F. Jacobs Suggestions for Alternative Measures of Budget Balance for South Africa, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2002) accessed October 16, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The following hypothesis was set and tested by this study: is the conventional budget balance, as generally accepted and used, still relevant for South Africa? The paper found that several possible alternatives are available but each must be viewed from the standpoint of their applicability to the South African context. Several were not suitable for South Africa-only because of a serious lack of available data needed to make them operational. The paper also highlights the need for reforms in government financial information in South Africa.

Subject: Budget planning and preparation, Economic and financial statistics, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Government finance statistics, Public debt, Public financial management (PFM)

Keywords: Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Balance, Break, Budget balance, Budget deficit, Budget planning and preparation, Country, Fiscal indicators, Fiscal stance, GDP ratio, Government, Government assets, Government finance statistics, Government saving, Policy objective, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    26

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2002/110

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA1102002

  • ISBN:

    9781451853353

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941