UNU-WIDER at the 2025 Dialogue on Public Finance and the SDGs

The increasing complexity of development challenges requires sophisticated data and statistical frameworks to inform public finance decisions and accelerate SDG progress. With developing countries facing mounting debt pressures and shrinking fiscal space, the need for evidence-based policymaking supported by robust data infrastructure has never been more critical. Administrative tax data offer unique, highly valuable insights for the analysis of tax policy and tax administration, yet they remain largely underused. Microsimulation tools such as SOUTHMOD and GHATAX complement and enable analysis of policy impacts across different population segments.

The session highlights successful cases where data-driven approaches have informed revenue collection while promoting equity and sustainability. Drawing on practical experiences from multiple countries, it demonstrates how data and tools for tax gap analysis, national accounts, business registration, and policy simulation can provide coherent and complementary evidence, creating synergies for fiscal policy decisions. It also reflects on addressing data infrastructure challenges and showcase how these statistical and analytical tools can be integrated to strengthen public finance management and drive better development outcomes. 

Research Fellow Pia Rattenhuber and Research Associate Maria Jouste are both speaking during the session, drawing on their experience with SOUTHMOD and tax gap research with UNU-WIDER. 

Programme 

Date: 31 January 
Moderator: Babatunde, Global Policy Advisor, UNDP

Opening remarks: Pia Rattenhuber, Research Fellow, UNU-WIDER

Speakers: 

• Edward Abrokwah, Ministry of Finance, Ghana
• Samuel Annim, Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana
• Kyle McNabb, Economist, World Bank 
• Maria Jouste, Research Associate, UNU-WIDER
• Patricio Barra, Tax Gap Expert, IMF

Closing remarks: Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen, Inter-Regional Adviser, UNDESA