Transforming Public Finances Through GovTech

Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 2:00-3:30 p.m. Vienna time (CET)

Presenter
Mariano Moszoro, Senior Economist, IMF, Fiscal Affairs Department

Discussants
Agnieszka Gajewska, Global Government and Public Services Leader, PwC Poland
Simon Carl O’Meally, Senior Public Sector Management Specialist, The World Bank

Moderator
Markus Eller, Senior Economist, Joint Vienna Institute

Digitalization can help make government operations more effective and efficient, both on the revenue and the spending sides, which can lead among others to favorable outcomes in education, health and social safety nets. However, the digital divide across countries and within countries continues to persist. As a result, many governments have not been able to harness the full potential of digitalization. Governments can play an important role in facilitating digital adoption by intervening both on the supply side (e.g., by investing in infrastructure) and the demand side (e.g., by increasing internet affordability). Digitalization, of course, is not a substitute for good governance and comprehensive reform plans combining legal and institutional reforms are needed to ensure that governments can reap full benefits from digitalization and manage the risks appropriately.  

This webinar will discuss these issues and the findings of a recent cross-country study on “GovTech” conducted by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department. It is part of the JVI’s increased focus on the economic effects of digitalization and the associated challenges for economic policy. Beyond existing courses on digitalization and money and finance, a new course on GovTech will be offered in 2024.

The webinar will be held in English.

Participants are encouraged to ask written questions to the presenters using the webinar’s Q&A feature.

To participate in the webinar please sign up here.

A list of JVI webinars on topical issues in the field of financial stability, fiscal policy, and macroeconomics can be found here.

The schedule of JVI courses – including virtual courses – can be found here.

We look forward to continuing our engagement with you!

Hervé Joly, Director (JVI)