The hidden figures of Budget 18-19

Summing up the budgetary debates, the PM counter argued that “Notre performance impressione Moody’s…et le FMI.” That’s a weak argument. Moody’s bases its analysis on the official figures and if they have any queries they liaise directly with the Ministry of Finance. 

Comments on "The lean budget legacy or how to really score political points " - Le Mauricien

https://www.lemauricien.com/article/the-lean-budget-legacy-or-how-to-really-score-political-points/

Please read this article in Le Mauricien -Forum page of the 18th June. It proposes A NEW APPROACH to the budget process. The Ministry of Finance must evolve from mere number crunchers bogged down in fire-fighting and routine work to proper analysts, involved in strategic thinking and research, in the evaluation and assessment of the impact of the programmes and policies and in advising government accordingly. Presently there is very little analysis of how the policies/projects/programmes taken together will impact at the national level.

BUDGET 2018-19: SHORT-TERM GAINS FOR LONG-TERM PAINS

Published in Le Mauricien, 22 June 2018

The consolidated budget deficit for 2018-19 is -3.8% of GDP (against the advice of the IMF they have recreated some off-budget special funds). If we include the realisable off-budget expenditures (my own estimates), the deficit works out to be -5.0%. Without the grants of Rs 8 billion (at what cost ?  Agalega and the amended Double Taxation Treaty!!!), the consolidated deficit peaks at a catastrophic figure of -6.7 % of GDP (assuming disbursement of the full grants amount).

The three earlier budgets: Absence of reforms

Published in Le Mauricien,13 June 2018 

Awaiting budget 2018-19, it is interesting to have a cursory look at the main aggregates and policy orientations of the earlier budgets of this government which can give us an idea what to expect and not to expect from the forthcoming budget. We have refrained from restrictively comparing one budget to another but rather analyse a budget in terms of its targets, objectives, fiscal strategy and macroeconomic framework.

Slash the Fuel taxes !!!

Published in Le Mauricien, 01 June 2018

We currently paying Rs 52.00 per litre at the pump for gasoline – but roughly 55% of that price comes from different forms of taxes/contributions namely, subsidies, road, ecology and excise and value added taxes. Fuel taxes are usually levied to correct market failures and/or to mobilize fiscal resources.

Inculcating Values through Education

       Dear Sir , your article in LE MAURICIEN of Friday 11th May , titled “L’Education passe avant l’Instruction: Elle fonde l’Homme” did catch my attention as it provides welcome visibility to an important topic. However i felt that it should have concluded with a message of hope and on the things that we can do to tackle the present situation.

Public Sector Debt : Data Gaps

Published in Le Mauricien, 18 May 2018
Some years back during the heydays of the tandem Mansoor-Sithanen, when we were repeatedly highlighting the dubious accounting in the budgets, especially the Special Funds, the very people who were then in the opposition took up these arguments in their interventions and PQs at the National Assembly. At that time they seem to know better than the “Ministry of Finance, Moody’s, the World bank or the IMF”.