Nigerian states' debt could endanger national recovery

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
State Level ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Federal System ◽  
Result State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Earning Power ◽  
Government Bailouts ◽  
Debt Levels

Subject Nigeria's state debts. Significance An increasing number of the 36 states that make up Nigeria’s federal system are seriously indebted. At the same time, the earning power of states has stagnated in the current period of economic downturn. As a result, state governors are finding it increasingly difficult to finance their debt obligations. A federal government bailout in July 2015 staved off disaster, but debt levels remain unsustainable. In turn, this has led to a greater focus on boosting states’ internally generated revenue (IGR). Impacts High corruption and the limited legitimacy of many state-level governments complicate the task of raising taxes to generate revenue. Growing indebtedness has left state-level governments increasingly dependent on federal government bailouts, disempowering state leaders. High sub-national debt levels in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa makes financial devolution look unsustainable regionally.

Mexico health reform success turns on implementation

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
Health Reform ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
State Level ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Health Plans ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
The Public

Subject Health plans. Significance President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) on December 14 announced changes to the public health sector to expand coverage, improve quality of care and guarantee access to free medicines. His plans will see the federal government assume responsibilities previously the remit of state-level authorities. Impacts The overhaul will take place as key institutions in the sector are decentralised, compounding implementation challenges. Without greater investment in prevention in addition to medical attention, improvements in the population’s health will be limited. Centralisation of decision-making and resource allocation will improve monitoring and accountability but not necessarily stop corruption.

Nigeria finance bill will modestly increase revenue

2022 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
State Level ◽  
Consumer Spending ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Limited Impact ◽  
The Public ◽  
Consumption Taxes

Significance The bill aims to expand the accruable revenue for the federal government, crucial for meeting the government’s 2022 fiscal targets. In particular it looks to close existing tax loopholes rather than raising consumption taxes which could inhibit economic growth. Impacts Increased taxes will only have a limited impact on consumer spending and inflation. The bill will not appreciably increase state-level revenues. Broader institutional reforms in the public sector are unlikely due to powerful patronage networks.

Somalia will mark transition in 2016, if not change

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
State Level ◽  
Political Transition ◽  
The Political ◽  
Member States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Direct Elections ◽  
Political Turmoil ◽  
The Eu

Subject Outlook for Somalia's political transition. Significance Leaders of the federal government and member states will meet on January 10 in Kismayo to finalise the framework for the August-September 2016 political transition. This will involve state-level electoral colleges selecting parliamentarians based on clan and constituency-based representation, rather than direct elections. Impacts Any transition in 2016 would fulfil a key donor requirement and mark a break with the politics of the 2004-12 period. Insecurity will challenge the transition, as the political turmoil in Burundi threatens further strain on AMISOM coherence and troop levels. Donor backing for AMISOM is set to shift, with the EU reducing its support by 20% from January.

The Affordable Care Act: triumphs and tribulations

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
Ilene Goldberg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Affordable Care Act ◽  
State Level ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Legal Professionals ◽  
The Affordable Care Act ◽  
Using Data

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the obstacles faced by the federal government in achieving its goal. The ACA is designed to provide most Americans with an access to affordable health care. Design/methodology/approach – Using data obtained from government sources, case law and current literature, the paper first discusses the history and background of the ACA. It evaluates the law’s current status, the benefits it achieved and the legal, economic, political and social challenges that lie ahead. Findings – Although the Supreme Court upheld most of the ACA’s provisions, opponents at the federal and state level are still attempting to overturn or undercut it. The ACA itself is so complicated that it has generated confusion among employers, consumers and even those who are charged with enforcing it. The extent to which the ACA can be successfully implemented is unclear, and adjustments must be made as the federal government struggles to implement key components. Originality/value – This paper should be of interest to academics, health-care and legal professionals, and to anyone who needs clarification and analysis of a still-evolving law that is certain to have an impact on most Americans.

Russian regions' financing problems will grow

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Federal Budget ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Russian Regions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Authorities ◽  
Regional Budgets ◽  
Double Digit

Subject Russian regional finances. Significance The Russia economic downturn is hitting the budgets of regional and local authorities. On March 30, four regional governments announced that they planned to issue bonds. The federal government was reported to be restructuring regions' debts to the federal budget, with a long grace period and a refinancing rate of 0.1% at a time of double-digit inflation. On April 1, the federal government said it would be giving 16.9 billion rubles (about 290 million dollars) in small-business subsidies to the regional authorities and plans for mortgage subsidies to halt the 30-40% drop in the pace of construction in the regions. Impacts Federal transfers to sub-national budgets will be increased from 2014 levels. Soft loans from the federal budget to regional administrations will also have to be increased. Public sector pay that is financed from regional budgets will fall.

Revenue-sharing returns to Argentine political agenda

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
Revenue Sharing ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sharing Scheme ◽  
Fiscal Balance ◽  
Electoral Calendar

Significance In 2015 the economic downturn and the electoral calendar undermined provincial finances. The outlook is no better for 2016, forcing provincial governors to seek fresh funds. In this context, the discussion of a new revenue-sharing regime between the federal and provincial governments has re-emerged. Impacts Provincial adjustment measures would put governability at risk; convergence to fiscal balance is expected to be gradual. Governors will exploit their relative political strength to get financial aid from the federal government. Though reform of the revenue-sharing scheme is politically difficult, there is room to reduce discretionary bias in other federal transfers.

Nigerian regional defence group may prompt new divides

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Federal Government ◽  
State Level ◽  
Police Force ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
True Purpose ◽  
Southern Nigeria ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Security Network

Subject Nigerian south-western security. Significance In January, governors in south-western states launched the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as 'Operation Amotekun' ('leopard' in the language of the Yoruba, the dominant regional ethnic group). Politicians and Yoruba leaders have made contrasting statements regarding the so-called Amotekun Corps' future relationship with the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), although the relatively swift recent passage of state-level laws has given it some legal architecture. However, there are fears that Amotekun’s true purpose is to target the Fulani, a largely Muslim and pastoralist ethnic group increasingly reviled in much of central and southern Nigeria. Impacts Amotekun could reinforce tensions between the ruling APC’s south-western and northern factions and powerbrokers. Given the uncertainties surrounding Amotekun, it is unlikely it will appreciably reduce crime in the near term. Amotekun is inspiring plans for similar formations in states in other geopolitical zones, including the south-east and south-south.

Labor's Western Australia win renews federalism debate

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
State Level ◽  
Income Taxes ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fed State ◽  
Federal Level ◽  
The Right ◽  
Border Controls

Significance The campaign was dominated by tensions with the federal government over the border controls instituted by Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan as part of efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the state. These tensions have fed state-level concerns about the increasing reach of the federal government in Canberra. Impacts Labor continues to dominate state governments across the country but remains in opposition at the federal level. States may seek a new revenue model, including the right to levy income taxes. Business groups may side with the states as they push for reforms in their relations with Canberra.

The Effects of Changes in State Tax Enforcement on Corporate Income Tax Collections

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Gupta ◽  
Daniel P. Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
State Level ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Corporate Income Tax ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Tax Policies ◽  
Tax Enforcement ◽  
Current Period ◽  
State Tax

ABSTRACT Using a new hand-collected database on state department of revenue (DOR) expenditures, this study examines the association between changes in state corporate tax enforcement expenditures and state-level tax collections during the 2000–2008 time period. The results, after addressing endogeneity concerns using a changes specification and state fixed effects, suggest a $1 increase (decrease) in current period corporate enforcement is associated with an $8 to $11 increase (decrease) in state tax collections two years into the future. The association appears to be attenuated in states with restrictive tax policies (i.e., unitary/combined reporting and related-party add-back provisions) suggesting that enforcement and restrictive tax policies could serve as substitutes. JEL Classifications: H26; H71; H72. Data Availability: Enforcement data were hand collected from state revenue department annual reports and by contacting state corporate income tax personnel. All annual reports are publicly available.

Variations in economic growth across states in Malaysia: an exploratory analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusniliyana Yusof ◽  
Kaliappa Kalirajan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
State Level ◽  
Bootstrap Sampling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Estimation Techniques ◽  
Development Index ◽  
Three Stage Least Squares ◽  
Development Gap

PurposeThe study contributes to the aim of regional development policy in reducing regional disparities, by examining the spatial balance in socioeconomic development across the states of Malaysia based on composite development index (CDI). Besides, the study has attempted to understand the issues in the development gaps across Malaysian states by evaluating the factors that explain the variation in economic growthDesign/methodology/approachThis study uses three-stage least squares (3SLS) and bootstrap sampling and estimation techniques to examine the factors that explain the variations in the growth of development across the states in Malaysia. The analysis involves 13 states in Malaysia (Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak) from 2005 to 2015.FindingsThe pattern in the spatial socioeconomic imbalance demonstrates a decreasing trend. However, the development index reveals that the performance of less developed states remained behind that of the developed states. The significant factors in explaining the variation in growth across the Malaysian states are relating to agriculture, manufacturing, human capital, population growth, Chinese ethnicity, institutional factors and natural resources.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors focused on Malaysian states over the period between 2005 and 2015. The authors encountered some limitations in obtaining relevant data such as international factors and technological change that might also explain the variation in economic growth as the data on these variables are not reported at the state level. Moreover, the data on GSDP by sector was only available from the year 2005. Second, the study is based on secondary data. Future studies might examine the factors that contribute to the development gap across Malaysian states through interviews or questionnaires and compare the findings with the existing results. Despite its limitations, this study contributes to the existing literature that emphasizes on spatial balance of socioeconomic in a developing country, focusing on Malaysian states.Practical implicationsThese findings provide guidance for policymakers by understanding key potential areas to reduce the disparity in economic growth across Malaysian states by understanding their impact on the growth.Originality/valueThis study employs different method of 3SLS and bootstrap sampling and estimation techniques in examining the factors that explain the variations in the growth of development across the states in Malaysia.

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