Panorama Fiscal de América Latina y el Caribe 2015: Dilemas y espacios de políticas

El Panorama Fiscal de América Latina y el Caribe 2015 presenta un panorama actualizado sobre el gasto público, el impacto fiscal de los recursos naturales no renovables, los efectos redistributivos de la política fiscal y las reformas tributarias recientes en América Latina y el Caribe. El documento, organizado en 3 capítulos, examina los niveles de deuda pública, constatando que se han reducido en América Latina pero se han elevados en el Caribe. Establece que, en general, existe espacio fiscal para aplicar políticas contracíclicas y potenciar el desarrollo productivo y que se debe modernizar el manejo fiscal de los recursos naturales no renovables. Explica que la incidencia de la política fiscal sobre la distribución del ingreso disponible es muy limitada y que en un entorno macroeconómico volátil, las reformas tributarias deben apuntar a fortalecer el impuesto sobre la renta.

Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2015: Policy space and dilemmas. Executive Summary

The present document provides an up-to-date overview of public debt and fiscal space in the region. The main conclusions show that public debt levels are low in Latin America and high in the Caribbean. Overall, the region has enough fiscal space to apply countercyclical policies and boost production development and the fiscal management of non-renewable natural resources needs to be modernized. It explains that fiscal policy has a very limited impact on the distribution of disposable income and in a volatile macroeconomic environment, reforms should aim to strengthen personal income tax.

Sobre la baja y estable carga fiscal en México

La baja carga tributaria, su elevada dependencia de los ingresos petroleros y su escaso efecto para reducir la concentración del ingreso son deficiencias fundamentales que limitan el desarrollo económico de México. El propósito del presente trabajo es examinar la evolución de largo plazo de los ingresos tributarios en México e identificar las causas detrás de su marcada estabilidad y debilidad. Para ello, en el trabajo se aborda el análisis de los elementos principales que han determinado la carga tributaria en el país y, a la vez, se hace un recuento crítico de algunos de los principales intentos y propuestas para instrumentar una reforma fiscal profunda. Dicho diagnóstico cierra con una sección de conclusiones en las que se apunta a la necesidad de hacer una reforma fiscal, que vaya mucho más allá de la que se puso en marcha en 2013, a fin de dotarlo de mayor equidad, eficiencia y capacidad recaudatoria que tanto urgen al desarrollo del país.

A questão fiscal na federação brasileira: diagnóstico e alternativas

O maior problema do sistema de transferências brasileiro é a virtual falência dos mecanismos dedicados ao equilíbrio horizontal. O sistema, de certa forma precário, concebido em 1965, foi extinto em 1989, deixando de existir no federalismo fiscal brasileiro qualquer sistema dinâmico e flexível de ajuste horizontal. É absolutamente urgente que o conceito de equilíbrio horizontal seja recuperado, discutidos os métodos que permitem viabilizá-lo. Existem duas alternativas básicas para isto. A primeira seria o que é às vezes chamado de "descongelamento": retornar às regras dinâmicas vigentes antes de 1989. Ainda que esta opção ofereça a óbvia vantagem de retornar a sistemas já conhecidos e vivenciados, são muito poucas as vantagens efetivas que isto pode trazer. O sistema anterior, se era apenas razoável no caso dos estados (um típico fluxo redistributivo), era já um desastre no caso dos municípios. Além disso, vinte anos de mudanças econômicas (PIB estadual) fariam com que a reconstituição dos critérios pré-1989 gerasse um forte impacto distributivo, que seria fortemente favorável às regiões mais desenvolvidas, que vêm perdendo recursos no FPE durante todo este tempo. É evidente que, dada a tradição estabelecida no país, de preferência para as regiões atrasadas, este resultado não seria aceito. Como o sistema não permite flexibilidade, gerando este único resultado, é muito provável que ocorresse outra vez o mesmo procedimento adotado em 1989: uma formatação pragmática de coeficientes, consistente com a correlação de força política do momento, e, provavelmente, um novo congelamento. A argumentação desenvolvida neste trabalho é suficiente para justificar a posição de que só haveria ganhos numa transição imediata para o uso de sistemas de equalização, tanto para estados quanto para municípios. Além de todas as demais vantagens, sistemas de equalização permitem alta flexibilidade na definição de grau de redistributividade aplicado, ampliando em muito as alternativas a serem escolhidas através da negociação política na federação.

El impacto fiscal de la explotación de los recursos naturales no renovables en los países de América Latina y el Caribe

Este documento apunta a efectuar un análisis de los regímenes fiscales aplicados sobre las actividades extractivas de recursos naturales no renovables en los países de la región, especialmente en aquellos donde su relevancia en términos del financiamiento del Estado resulta considerable. Asimismo, se analizan sus consecuencias en materia de distribución regional de los ingresos fiscales y las posibilidades que brindan estos instrumentos en materia de protección ambiental.

An assessment of fiscal and regulatory barriers to deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in Belize

Belize is currently faced with several critical challenges associated with the production, distribution and use of energy. Despite an abundance of renewable energy resources, the country remains disproportionately dependent on imported fossil fuels, which exposes it to volatile and rising oil prices, limits economic development, and retards its ability to make the investments that are necessary for adapting to climate change, which pose a particularly acute threat to the small island states and low-lying coastal nations of the Caribbean. This transition from energy consumption and supply patterns that are based on imported fossil fuels and electricity towards a more sustainable energy economy that is based on environmentally benign, indigenous renewable energy technologies and more efficient use of energy requires concerted action as the country is already challenged by limited fiscal space which reduces its ability to provide some fiscal incentives, which have been proven to be effective tools for the promotion of sustainable energy markets in a number of countries. This report identifies the fiscal and regulatory barriers to implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies in Belize. Data and information were derived from stakeholder consultations conducted within the country. The major result of the assessment is that the transition of policies and plans into tangible action needs to be increased. In this regard, it is necessary to articulate sub-policies of the National Energy Policy to amend the Public Utilities Commission Act, to develop a grid interconnection policy, to establish minimum energy performance standards for buildings and equipment and to develop a public procurement policy. Finally, decisions on renewable energy and energy efficiency-related incentives from the Government formally requires decision-makers to solve what may be extremely complex optimization problems in order to obtain the lowest-cost provision of energy services to society, thereby weighing the cost of revenue losses with the benefits of fuel and infrastructure expansion savings. The establishment of a management system that is efficient, flexible, and transparent, which will facilitate the implementation of the strategic objectives and outputs in the time available, with the financial resources allocated is recommended. Support is required for additional institutional and capacity strengthening.

An assessment of fiscal and regulatory barriers to deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in Curaçao

The current energy systems within Curaçao depend primarily on high cost, imported fossil fuels, and typically constitute power sectors that are characterized by small, inefficient generation plants which result in high energy prices. As a consequence of its dependence on external fuel supplies, Curaçao is extremely vulnerable to international oil price shocks, which can impact on economic planning and foreign direct investment within their industrial sectors. The ability of the successive governments to source capital for economic stimulation and social investment is therefore significantly challenging. Additionally, there is over-dependence on two of the most climate-sensitive economic sectors, namely the tourism and fisheries sectors, but the vulnerabilities of the country to the effects of climate change make adaptation difficult and costly. It is within this context that this report focuses on identification of the fiscal and regulatory barriers to implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in Curaçao with a view of making recommendations for removal of these barriers. Consultations with key Government officials, the private sector as well as civil society were conducted to obtain information and data on the energy sector in the country. Desktop research was also conducted to supplement the information gathered from the consultations. The major result of the assessment is that Curaçao is at an early stage in the definition of its energy sector. Despite some infrastructural legacies of the pre-independence era, as well as a number of recent developments including the modernization and expansion of its windfarms and completion of a modern Electricity Policy, there are still a number of important institutional and policy gaps within the energy sector in Curaçao. The most significant deficiency is the absence of a ministry or Government agency with portfolio responsibility for the energy sector as a whole; this has: limited the degree to which the activities of energy sector stakeholders are coordinated and retarded the development and implementation of a comprehensive national energy policy. The absence of an energy policy, which provides the framework for energy planning, increases investor risk. Also, the lack of political continuity that has emanated from the frequent changes in Government administrations is a concern among stakeholders and has served to reduce investor confidence in particular, and market confidence in general.

Training manual: innovative fiscal and regulatory incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives

This course will be designed for the officers within government departments who have responsibilty for guiding the country’s energy policy and energy management framework. Other stakeholders also will include private sector representatives who have interest in providing energy efficiency equipment and renewable energy solutions to the market towards advancing improvements in both energy efficiency and meeting renewable energy targets. The course will provide insight into all aspects of energy management with specific emphasis on energy efficiency as well as renewable energy. Emphasis will be placed on highlighting issues and challenges that countries face in pursuing energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies. International and regional best practices will be highlighted as a means of showcasing how various countries have overcome the barriers to advancing renewable energy targets and increasing energy efficiencies towards meeting national energy goals. The curriculum is divided into five modules and is designed to be covered over a 3-day period. The course will be designed to ensure practical application of the learning. The course also is designed to enable the Caribbean to demonstrate leadership in energy efficiency practices and the adoption of renewable energy strategies, serving as a model for other small island developing states.

Informe del Taller Regional sobre sostenibilidad fiscal y deuda (San José, Costa Rica, 30 de mayo de 2014)

El taller de expertos se desarrolló en el marco del Proyecto Regional “Fortalecimiento de Capacidades en el Análisis de la Política Macroeconómica en Centroamérica y la República Dominicana” CAPTAC-DR, en el que la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) participó conjuntamente con CAPTAC-DR/FMI en la coordinación de un equipo de consultores y técnicos de los Bancos Centrales y los Ministerios de Finanzas o Secretarías de Hacienda de los países de la región.

El Salvador: diagnóstico y lineamientos de un programa de apoyo al fortalecimiento del sistema fiscal para la inserción internacional y el desarrollo sustentable

Incluye bibliografía

Puerto Rico: Fiscal and economic growth challenges

The objective of this paper is to assess the challenges that Puerto Rico’s economy is currently facing. Puerto Rico’s development experience in the postwar period is briefly discussed in order to understand the nature of the island’s current situation. Puerto Rico’s recent economic performance, credit position, debt situation and fiscal conditions, including its complex capital structure and recently released fiscal and economic growth plan are also analyzed.