Publications

The Role of the Zambian Legislature in Tax Expenditure Policy

| 2 April 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures, Zambia
The Zambian Government annually presents the National Budget, including tax measures and some incentives, to the National Assembly. In addition to TEs granted through budget policy, other incentives are granted through various government institutions... ... continue reading

Striking a Balance on Local Content Requirements in Trade Agreements: The Case of the Energy Sector

| 15 March 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Energy, Global Value Chains, Renewables
The new trade agreement between India and EFTA States includes commitments on an important yet often overlooked form of trade restrictions: local content requirements. ... continue reading

Aligning Sovereign Bond Markets with the Net Zero Transition: the Role of Central Banks

, , and | 14 March 2024
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Central Banks, Climate Risks, Debt, Financial Supervision
Aligning sovereign bonds with net zero requires coordinated action by several stakeholders across the financial system. National governments are first in line to act but central banks have a unique opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. ... continue reading

Financial Regulation and Supervision in China. Grappling with the Ups and Downs of the Property Market

and | 12 March 2024
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: China, Financial Supervision, Housing
China's economic landscape bears the distinct imprint of its real estate sector, serving as both an engine of growth and a focal point for financial risk. ... continue reading

Why a Deal in the WTO Negotiations on E-Commerce is a “Must-Have” for MC13

and | 13 February 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, WTO
The internet is fundamentally dependent on openness to cross-border data flows. But many governments are regulating to constrain international data transfers - including under a banner of data sovereignty. ... continue reading

Rationalizing the Use of Tax Expenditures – The Role of Parliamentarians

| 31 January 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures
The role of parliaments is vital with regard to the monitoring and control of tax expenditures, both as part of the regular budget cycle and ad hoc, if required. ... continue reading

Advancing Scrutiny: 55 Year of Tax Expenditures Reporting in the United States

| 14 December 2023
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures, United States
The normal baseline currently used to define tax expenditures by the US Treasury remains fairly close to an economic measure of income, but with some differences. Tax expenditures include employee fringe benefits and imputed income on rents on owner-occupied housing, but not free financial services. ... continue reading

Net Zero Central Banking in Africa’s Diverse Economies: Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Options

, and | 29 November 2023
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Africa, Central Banks, Climate Risks, Financial Stability, Inequality
Africa’s economies are contending with a diverse set of challenges and opportunities in relation to building low-carbon, green economies and the transition to net zero emissions. Central banks can play a pivotal role in enabling the green transition in Africa. ... continue reading

Building Climate Resilient Portfolios. The Case of the Bank of Japan’s Index-Linked ETF Holdings

and | 28 November 2023
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Asset Purchases, Central Banks, Climate Risks, Governing Finance, Japan
Climate risks are financial risks that must be accounted for across all central bank operations and invested asset classes. Like for any other financial institution, all assets that central banks own – e.g., equities, bonds, and asset-backed securities – are exposed to climate risks. ... continue reading

Evaluation of Tax Expenditures. Conceptual Frameworks and International Experiences

, and | 28 November 2023
Fiscal, Discussion Notes | Tags: GTED, Latin America, Tax Expenditures
This report provides an international overview of the state of tax expenditure evaluations, showing that it remains relatively underdeveloped, not only in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also across the world. ... continue reading