The global surge in independent fiscal councils (IFCs) raises three related questions: How can IFCs improve the conduct of fiscal policy? Are they simultaneously desirable for voters and elected policymakers? And are they resilient to changes in political conditions? We build a model in which...

The IMF's Fiscal Transparency Code is the international standard for disclosure of information about public finances and is the centerpiece of the global architecture on fiscal transparency. The Fiscal Transparency Handbook (2018) provides detailed guidance on the implementation of the new...

The aim of the paper is to answer the question of whether fiscal reporting (more precisely, financial reporting of public finance sector entities (PFSE)) earnestly expressed the results of activities (information included is reliable, understandable and complete), and provide suggestions on how...

This paper evaluates the state of fiscal transparency in Austria. Austria has built strong fiscal institutions over the past decade, notably through the budget reforms introduced in 2009 and 2013, which have significantly improved fiscal transparency. Many elements of sound fiscal transparency...

This fiscal transparency evaluation (FTE) report assesses fiscal transparency practices in Colombia against the first three pillars of the IMF's Fiscal Transparency Code. Fiscal forecasting and budgeting-Pillar II-is the strongest area in Colombia's FTE. Half of the related indicators are...

Malta meets a large number of the principles of the Fiscal Transparency Code at good or advanced level. Based on the assessment made in this report, Malta meets the good or advanced practice on 21 out of 35 principles in the Code. One principle, related to natural resources, was not relevant to...

This Fiscal Transparency Evaluation (FTE) report assesses Mexico's fiscal transparency practices against the IMF's Fiscal Transparency Code (FTC), including the draft pillar on resource revenue management. Mexico scores relatively well when compared with other Latin American countries and...

This report assesses the state of fiscal transparency practices in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia against the IMF's Fiscal Transparency Code. The report finds that Macedonia meets the standard of good or advanced practice on 13 of the 36 principles, and the basic standard on a further...

This paper explores the effects of fiscal transparency on the borrowing costs of 33 emerging and developing economies (EMs), and on foreign demand for their sovereign debt. Using multiple indicators, including a constructed one based on the published data in the IMF's Government Finance...