Fiscal Policy Archives - Gifted Analysts

Nigeria’s Tax Reform: Easing the Burden on the Taxpayer and Tax Collector

By Dolapo AterePosted on October 8, 2023Posted in Business & FinanceTagged CIT, FIRS, Fiscal Policy, IGR, Nigeria, PAYE, Reforms, taxNo Comments

In an ever-evolving economic landscape, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, poised to reform its tax system to address the longstanding challenges faced by both taxpayers and tax collectors. The burden of taxation has weighed heavily on individuals and businesses for years, often accompanied by inefficiencies in revenue collection that hinder the government’s ability to provide essential services. However, with a renewed commitment to tax reform exemplified by initiatives like the newly established Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Nigeria is embarking on a transformative journey aimed at not only lightening the load on its taxpayers but also streamlining the processes for tax collection. This paradigm shift signifies an important moment in the nation’s fiscal history, promising improved equity, transparency, and efficiency in the tax system, ultimately fostering economic growth and development for the benefit of all stakeholders. Therefore, the objective of this article is to examine reforms that can alleviate the challenges faced by both tax collectors and taxpayers.

Fiscal Stability – A Need for States to Look Inward

By Popoola AkintayoPosted on February 18, 2022Posted in EconomyTagged FGN, Fiscal Policy, Lagos State, Nigeria, Revenue, States7 Comments

The existing revenue-sharing structure of the government stifles innovation and prevents the state from looking inward to improve revenue since the Federal Allocation remains intact. The major source of revenue for most States is the funding from FAAC, with many contributing little to the pool. Oil revenues which make up more than 42% of government income are generated from activities in oil-producing states, mainly in the South-South region, a fraction of the nation.

104 days of Bidenonomics

By Adebisi SamuelPosted on May 4, 2021Posted in Africa & World EconomyTagged America, Biden, Economy, Fiscal Policy, Inflation, jobs, StimulusNo Comments

President Biden has now been in office for 100 days. Okay, technically 104 days. In that time, presidential tweets have gotten way more boring, but the federal government’s plans to intervene in the economy have gotten way more interesting.

In his joint address to Congress last week, Biden called for a multitrillion-dollar agenda that could fundamentally transform the economy. And it now seems like the man conservatives called “Sleepy Joe” has been pounding Red Bulls and is ready to tax and spend like no president in generations.

Here’s a brief overview of some of President Biden’s biggest economic initiatives.

Understanding the Rise in US Long-Term Rates

By Okeowo EbenezerPosted on April 23, 2021Posted in Africa & World EconomyTagged Bond, COVID-19, Fiscal Policy, GDP, Inflation, Interest Rate, Monetary PolicyNo Comments

The rise in long-term US interest rates has become a focus of global macro-financial concerns. The nominal yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury has increased about 70 basis points since the beginning of the year. This reflects in part an improving US economic outlook amid strong fiscal support and the accelerating recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. So an increase would be expected. But other factors like investors’ concerns about the fiscal position and uncertainty about the economic and policy outlook may also be playing a role and help explain the rapid increase early in the year.

A Future with High Public Debt: Low-for-Long Is Not Low Forever

By Aminu MusaPosted on April 20, 2021Posted in Africa & World EconomyTagged COVID-19, Fiscal Policy, Interest Rate, Monetary Policy, Public DebtNo Comments

Many countries are experiencing a combination of high public debt and low interest rates. This was already the case in advanced economies even prior to the pandemic but has become even starker in its aftermath. A growing number of emerging market and developing economies are likewise enjoying a period of negative real rates—the interest rate minus inflation—on government debt. The IMF has called on countries to spend as much as they can to protect the vulnerable and limit long-lasting damage to economies, stressing the need for spending to be well targeted. This is especially critical in emerging market and developing economies, which face tighter constraints and associated fiscal risks, where greater prioritization of spending is of the essence.

A Beginner’s Guide to CBN’s Ways and Means to the Federal Government of Nigeria

By Abdulazeez KurangaPosted on January 26, 2021Posted in EconomyTagged Borrowing, cbn, Deficit, Expenditure, FGN, Fiscal Policy, Fiscal Revenue, Ways and Means2 Comments

CBN’s financing of the FGN deficits seems to be a structural one and not a one-off event. This is because historical data has shown that the CBN has been financing a huge part of the FGN deficits even when there was no economic downturn. For example, out of the total fiscal deficit of N3.64 trillion in 2018, the CBN financed 52.2%. In 2019, the total fiscal deficit was N4.23 trillion and the CBN financed 78.3% or N3.31 trillion of that amount. There was no downturn during those periods, hence it goes against economic theory for the CBN to be printing money to finance significant proportions of the FGN’s fiscal deficit.

Navigating Capital Flows – An Integrated Approach

By Adebisi SamuelPosted on December 9, 2020Posted in Africa & World EconomyTagged Capital Flows, Capital Market, Exchange Rate, Fiscal Policy, IPFNo Comments

International capital flows provide significant benefits for economic development but can also generate or amplify shocks. This dilemma has long posed challenges for policymakers in many open economies.

While flexible exchange rates can act as a useful shock absorber in the face of capital flow volatility, this mechanism does not always offer sufficient insulation, in particular when access to global capital markets is interrupted or market depth is limited.

Fiscal Policy for an Unprecedented Crisis

By Joshua OlorunsaiyePosted on October 25, 2020Posted in AgenciesTagged COVID-19, Crisis, Debt, Fiscal Policy, Pandemic, Tax RevenueNo Comments

The COVID-19 crisis has devastated people’s lives, jobs, and businesses. Governments have taken forceful measures to cushion the blow, totaling a staggering $12 trillion globally. These lifelines have saved lives and livelihoods. But they are costly and, together with sharp falls in tax revenues owing to the recession, they have pushed global public debt to an all-time high of close to 100 percent of GDP.

A Long, Uneven and Uncertain Ascent

By Adebisi SamuelPosted on October 24, 2020Posted in Africa & World EconomyTagged COVID-19, employment, Fiscal Policy, Fiscal Stimulus, Growth, IMF, Monetary Policy, PandemicNo Comments

This crisis is far from over. Employment remains well below pre-pandemic levels and the labor market has become more polarized with low-income workers, youth, and women being harder hit. The poor are getting poorer with close to 90 million people expected to fall into extreme deprivation this year. The ascent out of this calamity is likely to be long, uneven, and highly uncertain. It is essential that fiscal and monetary policy support are not prematurely withdrawn, as best possible.

Emerging Stronger From the Great Lockdown

By Abubakar AbdulrahmanPosted on September 12, 2020Posted in Africa & World EconomyTagged COVID-19, Fiscal Policy, Global Pandemic, government, Great depression, Great Lockdown, IMF, Monetary PolicyNo Comments

The managing director and the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund lay out a strategy for sustained recovery.

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