## Togo: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, May 17, 2017_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Togo: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/05/17/togo-selected-issues-44929)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/05/17/togo-selected-issues-44929/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/05/17/togo-selected-issues-44929/index.json)
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## Bibliographic details
- Published: May 17, 2017
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484300923.002

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### Summary of findings
- The paper assesses the redistributive impact of fiscal policies in Togo by estimating the impact of taxation and spending on household-level income inequality and poverty rates.
- The combination of direct taxes and subsidies is found to reduce inequality.
- The combination of direct taxes and subsidies is found to increase poverty rates.
- Mechanism identified: the value of taxes paid by lower-income households outweighs the value of transfers they receive, increasing the share of the population living below the poverty line.

### Policy implications and recommendations
- Highlighted policy priority: target spending to lower-income households.
- Suggested fiscal shift: progressively move public spending from infrastructure to social expenditures while improving targeting to protect the poor.

### Subject areas and keywords
- Subject: Commercial banks, Education, Financial institutions, Government debt management, National accounts, Personal income, Public debt, Public financial management (PFM)
- Keywords: B. social spending, banking sector, CEQ income concepts, Commercial banks, CR, Government debt management, income, ISCR, Personal income, spending, spending portfolio, Sub-Saharan Africa, Togo, Togolese banking sector, VAT, VAT bill, VAT income

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## Content in this bundle

- **Country Report**
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  - [Country Report (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2017/cr17128.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2017/05/17/togo-selected-issues-44929_