## Public Sector Balance Sheet Database: Overview and Guide for Compilers and Users

_IMF Working Papers, July 17, 2020_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Public Sector Balance Sheet Database: Overview and Guide for Compilers and Users](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/07/17/public-sector-balance-sheet-database-overview-and-guide-for-compilers-and-users-49568)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/07/17/public-sector-balance-sheet-database-overview-and-guide-for-compilers-and-users-49568/index.md)
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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Miguel A Alves, Sage De Clerck, Juliana Gamboa-Arbelaez
- Published: July 17, 2020
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513550466.001

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### Overview
- Paper provides an overview of the Public Sector Balance Sheet (PSBS) Database, a dataset developed in the context of the October 2018 Fiscal Monitor.
- Dataset coverage:
  - Comprehensive picture of public wealth for 38 countries.
  - Narrower picture for a further 37 countries and territories.
- Purpose: bring together accumulated assets and liabilities that governments control (including public corporations, natural resources, and pension liabilities) to account for the entirety of what the state owns and owes and to offer a broader fiscal picture beyond debt and deficits.
- Relevance: particularly pertinent amid record and still rising debts and heightened risks to the balance sheet of the public sector.

### Findings and benefits
- PSBSs increase transparency and allow closer scrutiny of government financial position.
- PSBSs enable better balance sheet management, with potential outcomes including:
  - increasing return on assets,
  - reducing risks,
  - reducing the costs of borrowing,
  - improving fiscal policymaking.

### Conceptual framework and methodology
- Paper elaborates on the conceptual framework and methodology used in compiling the PSBS data.
- Key conceptual elements and terminology highlighted in the source (as keywords) include:
  - accounts payable, accounts receivable, Assets, balance sheet, book value, capital stock, central bank, converting financial statements, deposit assets, fair value, Financial statements, government asset, heritage assets, historical cost, investment fund, liabilities, mineral and energy resources, net present value, net worth, reserve account, return on assets.
- Public sector components explicitly covered: public corporations, pension liabilities, natural resources.

### Guidelines for compilers and users
- Provides practical guidelines on:
  - compilation,
  - validation,
  - dissemination of PSBS data.
- Intended users: compilers and users seeking a comprehensive approach to public sector accounting and balance sheet construction.

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## Content in this bundle

- **Working Paper**
  - [Working Paper (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2020/english/wpiea2020130-print-pdf.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Working Paper (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/wp/2020/english/wpiea2020130-print-pdf.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/07/17/public-sector-balance-sheet-database-overview-and-guide-for-compilers-and-users-49568_