Parallel session
Using SOUTHMOD models to inform policy debates – examples from Africa
While the need for protecting the vulnerable has increased dramatically in the last few years, most developing countries face considerable fiscal constraints. The pandemic has further exacerbated this situation and policymakers are confronted with ever more challenging questions and challenges.
In this setting, it has become ever more pressing for governments to consider their tax and benefit policies carefully, weighing implications of existing and future policies for poverty and inequality while keeping in mind the government’s purse.
This session is dedicated to discussing how the tools of tax-benefit microsimulation models can be used to provide evidence for governments on the (potential) impact of policy (reform) on households in these challenging times. Experiences from three different African countries using SOUTHMOD models to inform the policy debate on specific topics will be discussed, and lessons learnt shared.