1. ALLEN SCHICK INTER-AMERICAN BANK DIALOGUE 23-24 MAY 2005
AN AGENDA FOR BUDGETING: ESTABLISHING A BUDGET NETWORK IN THE LAC REGION
ALLEN SCHICK
INTER-AMERICAN BANK DIALOGUE
23-24 MAY 2005

2. WHY THE LAC REGION SHOULD HAVE A BUDGET NETWORK
OECD’S SENIOR BUDGET OFFICIALS NETWORK
HOW IT HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS
THE INSULARITY OF BUDGET OFFICES
BUDGET OFFICIALS RARELY MEET WITH COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES
COUNTRIES IN LAC REGION CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER
NEED FOR BASIC CAPACITIES, NOT AVANT-GARDE REFORMS
WHY A LAC NETWORK SHOULD DIFFER FROM SBO
MORE ORIENTED TO DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE

3. FOUR VITAL ISSUES FOR A LAC BUDGET NETWORK
PROMOTING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MAKING THE BUDGET A STRATEGIC INSTRUMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LINKING THE PLANNING AND BUDGETING PROCESS
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
ASSURING TRANSPARENCY IN BUDGET PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
BUILDING A MORE PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED CIVIL SERVICE
STABILIZING PUBLIC FINANCE
CONSTRAINING BUDGET DEFICITS AND PUBLIC DEBT
PROTECTING GOVERNMENTS AGAINST FISCAL RISKS AND FINANCIAL CONTAGION
IMPROVING NATIONAL BUDGET PRACTICES
LENGTHENING THE TIME FRAME OF BUDGETING
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF PERFORMANCE

4. ISSUES FOR THE IADB BUDGET DIALOGUE
WHICH MATTERS SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY IN LAUNCHING THE NETWORK?
IS IT REALISTIC TO CONCEIVE OF THE BUDGET AS A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS?
WHAT HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE WITH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY RULES?
WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FRAME FOR BUDGETING?
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FISCAL CONTAGION?
SHOULD THE DIALOGUE DISCUSS THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE, COURTS AND COMPTROLLER GENERAL?
WHAT IS THE EXTENT OF EARMARKING OF REVENUES/EXPENDITURES?

5. GETTING STARTED PARTNERING WITH OECD’S SENIOR BUDGET OFFICIALS (SBO)
FORMULATING AN AGENDA FOR RESEARCH AND ACTION
USING IMF’S CODE OF GOOD PRACTICES IN FISCAL TRANSPARENCY
FOCUSING ON BASIC CAPACITIES RATHER THAN BEST PRACTICES
COMBINING AN ANNUAL MEETING AN ONGOING ACTIVITIES
ENCOURAGING NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE