Tag: fiscal reform
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Watchdogs urge Marcos to act on P633 billion pork items in 2026 budget
Capitalizing on a snarl of pork barrel concerns The call comes as budget watchdogs demand decisive action from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over an alarming portion of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. According to watchdog groups, about P633 billion worth of line items could be vulnerable to corruption or misclassification, risking ineffectiveness and…
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Nigeria Grants Massive Debt Write-Off: NNPC Debts to Federation Account Slashed
Overview: A Landmark Debt Cancellation President Bola Tinubu has approved a sweeping cancellation of a significant portion of debts owed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to the Federation Account. The reconciliation process reportedly cleared about $1.42 billion and N5.57 trillion, marking one of the largest debt write-offs in recent Nigerian fiscal history.…
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MGNREGA Decimation: Congress Slams Modi, Launches Campaign
Background: What is at stake The Congress party is painting the decision to “decimate MGNREGA” as a unilateral move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comparable in its perceived impact to the demonetisation fiasco of 2016. At a recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi framed the move as an erosion…
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Why Rachel Reeves’ Pay-Per-Mile Car Tax Could Sink UK EV Ambitions
Rachel Reeves and the EV crossroads As the Autumn Budget looms, political rhetoric around how to fund public services and transition to a greener economy is heating up. The most controversial topic on the table for some Tory and Labour observers is a pay-per-mile car tax—a policy that would tax drivers based on distance rather…
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What Marcos administration can do to arrest slower economic growth in 2025
Rationale: A slower 2025 growth path demands targeted reforms The Philippines posted a modest 4% GDP expansion in the third quarter, underscoring headwinds that could drag growth lower in 2025. Inflation volatility, elevated interest rates globally, and the need for faster project execution point to a policy mix that goes beyond short-term stimulus. Experts say…
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Reeves’ income tax raid: higher earners to pay thousands more
Overview: What the proposed tax changes mean for higher earners Britain faces a debate over whether to restructure income tax as part of a broader effort to fund public services and reduce the national deficit. The discussions focus on a target group: higher earners earning more than £75,000 a year. Proposals circulating in political circles…
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Israel’s Budget Battle: Finance Ministry Targets IDF Overspending and Proposes Bank Tax for 2026
Overview of the 2026 Budget Framework The Finance Ministry released the core principles of Israel’s 2026 state budget this week, signaling a major shift in how the government plans to finance security, welfare, and infrastructure. The reform package aims to curb what senior treasury officials describe as excessive military expenditure and to diversify revenue streams…
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Pakistan’s IMF Loans: Review Begins as Islamabad Seeks Measures to Meet Targets
IMF Review Kickoff: What the Mission Is Seeking to Achieve The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has begun formal discussions with Pakistan’s economic authorities to review the implementation of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and a $1.1 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The two-week mission, launched as Pakistan’s performance under the program through…