{
  "title": "Operational Guidance Note for IMF Engagement on Social Spending Issues",
  "publication": "Policy Papers, April 30, 2024",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/policy-papers/issues/2024/04/30/operational-guidance-note-for-imf-engagement-on-social-spending-issues-548431",
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  "summary": "This note provides general guidance on the operationalization of the strategy for IMF engagement on social spending. Social spending plays a critical role as a key lever for promoting inclusive growth, addressing inequality, protecting vulnerable groups during structural change and adjustment, smoot",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview and Purpose",
      "content": "- Provides general guidance on the operationalization of the strategy for IMF engagement on social spending.\n- Builds on a series of notes on IMF engagement on specific social spending issues since the publication of the 2019 strategy paper.\n- Provides operational guidance on when and how to engage on social spending issues in the contexts of:\n  - surveillance,\n  - IMF-supported programs,\n  - capacity development."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Role and Functions of Social Spending (Findings)",
      "content": "- Social spending is a key lever for promoting inclusive growth.\n- Addresses inequality and protects vulnerable groups during structural change and adjustment.\n- Smooths consumption over the lifecycle.\n- Stabilizes demand during economic shocks.\n- Plays an important role in tackling structural challenges associated with:\n  - demographic shifts,\n  - gender inequality,\n  - technological advances,\n  - climate change."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Operational Focus Areas (Guidance Themes)",
      "content": "- When to engage: criteria and timing for IMF engagement on social spending issues (as applied across surveillance, programs, and capacity development).\n- How to engage: modalities and approaches tailored to surveillance, IMF-supported programs, and capacity development.\n- Emphasis on integrating social spending analysis into broader fiscal and macroeconomic assessments."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subject Areas and Keywords",
      "content": "- Subject: Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Health care spending, Monetary policy, Political economy\n- Keywords: education, Education spending, fiscal sustainability, health, Health care spending, IMF capacity development, pensions, social safety nets, social spending, social spending conditionality, social spending floor, spending adequacy, spending efficiency, spending issue, Sub-Saharan Africa, transparency policy, West Africa\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Policy Paper\n  - Policy Paper (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Policy Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/policy-papers/issues/2024/04/30/operational-guidance-note-for-imf-engagement-on-social-spending-issues-548431"
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    "Published: April 30, 2024",
    "Series: Policy Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400272271.007",
    "Provides general guidance on the operationalization of the strategy for IMF engagement on social spending.",
    "Builds on a series of notes on IMF engagement on specific social spending issues since the publication of the 2019 strategy paper.",
    "Provides operational guidance on when and how to engage on social spending issues in the contexts of:",
    "Social spending is a key lever for promoting inclusive growth.",
    "Addresses inequality and protects vulnerable groups during structural change and adjustment.",
    "Smooths consumption over the lifecycle.",
    "Stabilizes demand during economic shocks.",
    "Plays an important role in tackling structural challenges associated with:",
    "When to engage: criteria and timing for IMF engagement on social spending issues (as applied across surveillance, programs, and capacity development).",
    "How to engage: modalities and approaches tailored to surveillance, IMF-supported programs, and capacity development.",
    "Emphasis on integrating social spending analysis into broader fiscal and macroeconomic assessments.",
    "Subject: Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Health care spending, Monetary policy, Political economy",
    "Keywords: education, Education spending, fiscal sustainability, health, Health care spending, IMF capacity development, pensions, social safety nets, social spending, social spending conditionality, social spending floor, spending adequacy, spending efficiency, spending issue, Sub-Saharan Africa, transparency policy, West Africa",
    "**Policy Paper**"
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