IMF Working Papers

The Cost of Government and the Misuse of Public Assets

By Tej Prakash, Vito Tanzi

November 1, 2000

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Tej Prakash, and Vito Tanzi. The Cost of Government and the Misuse of Public Assets, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2000) accessed December 22, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper deals with efficiency in the public sector. It argues that the habit of relating efficiency to public spending, as is generally done, may give wrong results when, as is often the case, public institutions use public assets (land, buildings, etc.) without imputing a cost for that use. The paper argues that, because of lack of incentives, governments are often wasteful in their use of publicly held assets. It recommends the creation of “cadastres” of publicly owned assets that could be used for several purposes including increasing public sector efficiency.

Subject: Asset and liability management, Asset valuation, Budget planning and preparation, Economic sectors, Education, Financial statements, Public financial management (PFM), Public sector

Keywords: Asset, Asset valuation, Australia and New Zealand, Budget, Budget planning and preparation, Cadastres of public assets, Capital charges, Countries wonder, Country, Efficiency in government, Financial statements, Government, Government decision, Government land, Government policy, Governments of Australia, National income, Public assets, Public sector, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    21

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2000/180

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA1802000

  • ISBN:

    9781451859102

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941

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