This document discusses trends in public financial management (PFM) reforms. It outlines the objectives of PFM as macrofiscal discipline, strategic resource allocation, and technical efficiency. Popular reforms aim to change incentives to better meet these objectives by altering rules, roles, and information. Recent reforms have focused on budget formulation tools like capital budgets and performance budgets differently across countries based on income level. There is a need for PFM reforms to address real problems and be tailored to each country's circumstances and stage of development.

1. Public Financial Management Reform: Trends and Lessons Bill Dorotinsky Fiscal Affairs Department IMF ICGFM June 18, 2008 Washington, D.C.

4. Expenditure Management Cycle Source: Adapted from Integrated Financial Management . Michael Parry, International Management Consultants Limited. Training Workshop on Government Budgeting in Developing Countries. THE UNITED NATIONS. December 1997. Planning system Medium term plans, e.g. three year rolling plans Annual budgets Development, recurrent and revenue Fund release procedure, e.g... warranting Accounting for revenue and expenditure Public expenditure review Institutions Reports and financial statements Audit system Project monitoring Project appraisal Resource allocation Liquidity management Expenditure control Monitoring & controlling Post event review Accountability Expenditure review Financial management system boundaries

5. Popular Reforms Recommended reforms generally try to change incentives to better meet objectives by changing rules, roles and information   External audit ? ? ? Accrual Accounting  Internal control/audit  Procurement    Reporting/ Transparency    Budget classification, chart of account   Treasury Single Account  Fiscal Responsibility Laws   IFMIS, automation   Performance, Program budgeting    Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks Operational Efficiency Strategic Allocation Macrofiscal Discipline

9. Budget Formulation Recent Reform Emphasis Different drivers of reforms confuse the picture. Which are donor-driven? Which country driven? Which address real need? Which are simply fashionable? If higher income enables more self-direction, interesting that performance budgeting of greater interest in upper-middle income countries. * 2006 gross national income (GNI) per capita. The groups are: low income (LIC) US$905 or less; lower middle income (LMIC) US$906–3,595; upper middle income (UMIC) US$3,596–11,115. 23% 21% 9% Capital-Investment Bdgts 38% 15% 23% Performance/Program Budgeting 46% 39% 37% MT Expenditure Framework 31% 45% 29% MT Fiscal Framework UMIC* (13) LMIC* (33) LIC* (35)

10. Budget Execution Recent Reform Emphasis na 12% 14% Procurement na 12% 11% Internal audit/control 15% 9% 17% Payroll/Personnel 23% 42% 40% Accounting/classification 8% 18% 11% Debt management 15% 18% 26% Commitment controls 31% 36% 51% Treasury/Cash management UMIC (13) LMIC (33) LIC (35)

11. Other Reforms Recent Reform Emphasis 23% 15% 26% Decentralization 15% 21% 3% PPPs 15% 30% 20% Transparency 23% 36% 26% Budget Law/Legal 8% 18% 3% MoF Reorganization 23% 36% 49% IFMIS UMIC (13) LMIC (33) LIC (35)