The Global Financial Crisis: Countercyclical Fiscal Policy Issues and Challenges in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore

62 Pages Posted: 9 Jun 2011

Date Written: June 8, 2011

Abstract

Several countries have employed countercyclical fiscal policy to ameliorate the impact of the global financial crisis. This study identifies some of the issues and policy implications associated with this policy response in developing countries. Included are case studies of four developing countries in the Asian region — Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The findings point to a rich diversity in both the size and composition of fiscal stimulus and the challenges which are confronted. This study suggests several steps that countries might take to improve the impact of expansionary fiscal policy in response to future downturns. These include (i) embedding automatic stabilizing impulses through the provision of social safety nets; (ii) increasing tax revenues collected from personal and corporate taxes, by reducing labor market informality through improvements in the business environment; (iii) safeguarding fiscal sustainability; (iv) re-balancing growth by strengthening other sectors of the economy; (v) reducing expenditures on subsidies; and (vi) ensuring smooth and efficient budget execution.

Keywords: countercyclical fiscal policy, Asia fiscal policy, fiscal policy, global financial crisis

JEL Classification: E60, E61, E62, E63

Suggested Citation

Doraisami, Anita, The Global Financial Crisis: Countercyclical Fiscal Policy Issues and Challenges in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore (June 8, 2011). ADBI Working Paper No. 288, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1859991 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1859991

Anita Doraisami (Contact Author)

Monash Business School ( email )

Wellington Road
Clayton, Victoria 3168
Australia

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