Departmental Papers

In the Wake of the Global Economic Crisis: Adjusting to Lower Revenue of the Southern African Customs Union in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland

Author/Editor:

Thomson Fontaine ; Dalmacio Benicio ; Joannes Mongardini ; Genevieve Verdier ; Gonzalo C Pastor Campos

Publication Date:

January 1, 2011

Electronic Access:

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

Summary:

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is facing its biggest challenge in its 100 years of existence. The global economic crisis has significantly reduced its revenue outlook, which is having a disproportionate impact on its smaller member countries, and which calls for an appropriate policy response. This paper discusses specifically the implications for Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland, and provides recommendations regarding the proper fiscal response by these countries to the decline in SACU revenue.

Series:

Departmental Paper No. 2011/001

Subject:

Expenditure Fiscal consolidation Fiscal policy Public debt Public investment spending Revenue administration