Systemic Weaknesses of Budget Management in Anglophone Africa

30 Pages Posted: 14 Feb 2006

See all articles by Ian Lienert

Ian Lienert

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Feridoun Sarraf

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: December 2001

Abstract

This paper examines the merits of the British budget management system that was inherited in Anglophone African countries and which has changed substantially in the United Kingdom since the 1960s. It considers whether the disappointing budgetary performance in Africa is due to weaknesses in the inherited British system, other external influences, or domestic developments. It finds that all three factors have played a role in the widespread problems with budget management systems. Reforms in institutional arrangements are needed, especially in budget execution. Technical reforms will be ineffective unless there are concomitant changes to enhance accountability, improve governance, and increase compliance.

Keywords: systemic, Africa, British, budget institutions, budget preparation, budget execution, government expenditure, arrears, audit

JEL Classification: E62, H11, H30, H50, H61, N47, O23, P51

Suggested Citation

Lienert, I. and Sarraf, Feridoun, Systemic Weaknesses of Budget Management in Anglophone Africa (December 2001). IMF Working Paper No. 01/211, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=880879

I. Lienert (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Feridoun Sarraf

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

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