2019 Government Finance Statistics Advisory Committee Meeting

September 12-13, 2019

 

Agenda

Thursday, September 12 (Day1)

8:30 a.m.

Registration and breakfast (HQ2-01-280A&B)

8:50 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

GFSAC Chair, Louis Marc Ducharme (IMF, STA)

9:00 a.m.

Opening Address

IMF DMD Zhang

A. Government Finance Statistics—State of Play, Main Challenges of GFS Users

This session will discuss the current situation about the reporting of government finance data to the IMF, and its relevance for surveillance and program monitoring, and what further progress might be realistically expected over the coming years in harmonizing fiscal data, and the supportive role the Committee can play here.

9:20 a.m.

State of Play, Main Challenges, and Future Directions

Rainer Koehler (IMF, STA)

Presentation

9:40 a.m.

The Role of Good Quality Fiscal Statistics for Surveillance and Program Monitoring

Tobias Rasmussen (IMF, AFR)

Presentation

10:00 a.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

10:20 a.m.

Coffee break

B. Methodological Issues and Country Practices

This session will discuss topics for which gaps in the current methodological guidance have been identified, and how to address these.

10:40 a.m.

The Perimeter of Government: Best Practices from Canada

Phillipe Samborski (Statistics Canada)

Paper

Presentation

11:00 a.m.

Defining the Perimeter of the General Government: The Experience of Compiling Consolidated Government Finance and Public Sector Debt Statistics in China

Zhao Qian (China, MoF)

11:20 a.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

11:50 a.m.

Group Photo

12:00 p.m.

Presentation at 1:00 p.m.

Luncheon (HQ2-Conference Hall 2)

Followed by Luncheon Address

Seeing Public Value: The Case for Balance Sheet Targeting in Fiscal Policy in the UK

Richard Hughes (Resolution Foundation and former H.M. Treasury) and Foyzunnesa Khatun (Office for National Statistics, UK).

Paper

Presentation

2:00 p.m.

Practical methodological issues in the valuation of stock positions in financial assets

Irina Dubinina (Russia, GFS expert)

Paper

Presentation

2:20 p.m.

Practical methodological issues in the valuation of stock positions in nonfinancial assets – Country Case of Uruguay

Adriana Arosteguiberry (Uruguay, National Treasury)

Paper

Presentation

2:40 p.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

3:10 p.m.

Coffee break

C. Improving Availability of Data for Surveillance and Decision-making

This session will discuss lessons learned and ways to improve data collection to address the growing needs of surveillance and decision-making.

3:30 p.m.

Public Sector Balance Sheets—What Have We Learnt and How Can We Use It?

Alexander Tieman (IMF, FAD)

Presentation

4:00 p.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

4:30 p.m.

Key takeaways and next steps

5:00 p.m.

Close of the Day

5:30 p.m.

Reception hosted by the IMF (City View Lounge – HQ2-12B-931)


Friday, September 13 (Day2)

8:30 a.m.

Breakfast (HQ2-01-250A&B)

9:00 a.m.

Debt Statistics in the Context of Debt Sustainability Analysis

Mike Li (IMF, SPR)

Paper

Presentation

9:20 a.m.

Beyond Government—Compiling Data of State-Owned Enterprises

Albert Musisi (Uganda, MFPED)

Paper

Presentation

9:50 a.m.

Experiences of Extending Fiscal Data Coverage Beyond General Government

Ali Alichi (IMF, WHD)

Presentation

10:20 a.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

11:00 a.m.

Coffee break

11:20 a.m.

Data Availability Issues in Assessing the Credit risk of Government’s Debt

Mark Zandi (Moody’s Analytics)

Presentation

11:50 p.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

12:20 p.m.

Key takeaways and next steps

12:30 p.m.

Lunch (HQ2-01A-250A&B)

D. Capacity Development Issues

This session will discuss the regional initiatives of the GFSAC.

1:30 p.m.

Regional Initiatives of the GFSAC

Andrew Kitili (IMF, STA)

Presentation

1:50 p.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

2:20 p.m.

Key takeaways and next steps

E. Research Priorities

This session will discuss the research agenda on ongoing methodological issues.

2:30 p.m.

Research Agenda

Zaijin Zhan (IMF, STA)

Presentation

2:45 p.m.

Discussion and reactions from GFSAC

3:15 p.m.

Coffee break

F. The Way Ahead

3:45 p.m.

Other Matters

4:00 p.m.

Meeting wrap up, Summary, and Recommendations

Gabriel Quirós-Romero (IMF, STA)

Presentation

4:30 p.m.

Closing remarks

GFSAC Chair