Posts Tagged 'Guyana'

A Proposal for an Economic Policy Advisory Body for Guyana

The aim of this note is to develop a proposal for an economic policy advisory body to help develop government policies to promote growth and jobs, reduce poverty, and improve the nation’s health, education, safety, and general well-being. The rationale for proposing an advisory body is that with the economy growing so rapidly and risks elevated, the current model of policy development by government alone, through the annual budget exercise, is no longer sufficient. There is a need to support and expand that model with a broad-based, independent advisory body, comprising members from the business sector, labor, academia, and civil society.

Published Date: April 2022
Authors: M. DaCosta, K. Dublin, and S. Williams
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Comparative Tax Regimes in Oil Industries Operating in Selected Developing Countries

The operations of international oil companies operating in developing countries have a disproportionate impact on the finances of these countries as a result of the contributions made to these countries in terms of taxes and other payments in return for the right to extract and sell hydrocarbon resources. Given that these hydrocarbon resources are non-replaceable, once extracted, the governments and public in many host countries are concerned that the revenue-receipts from the sale of their hydrocarbon resources accruing to national governments are maximized since they are likely to constitute the single most important engine of growth in the foreseeable future. Recognizing that oil-production contracts signed between countries and international oil companies vary from country-to-country, this note provides a review of the variety of these arrangements in use, paying special attention to the tax regimes that they incorporate. Based on available information, the literature indicates that there is no substantial difference between the different oil-production arrangements as revenue sources for national governments. This review of the different tax regimes implied by the contractual arrangements is followed by a description of the national tax arrangements applicable to the international oil companies that are in effect in a group of selected countries which include: Guyana, Suriname, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Ghana, Kenya, and Angola.

Published Date: April 2021
Author: Keith Dublin

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Guyana: A Revised Fiscal Framework, 2020-2023

Following-up on the publication on this website of the fiscal framework incorporating oil revenue—2018-2023, the attached table and these explanatory notes represent an attempt to quantify the effects of the fall in oil prices on Guyana’s fiscal profile between 2020-2023.

Legislation was passed that establishes a National Resources Fund (NRF) as an offshore saving fund. It was agreed that all petroleum revenue allocated to the Guyana Government should flow into the NRF and a fiscal transfer rule should determine the fiscally sustainable transfer from the NRF to the annual budget. In the medium-term, the rule envisages a transfer of around half of current oil revenue receipts to the budget.

Published Date: July 2020
Author:Keith Dublin, Michael DaCosta, and Sherwyn Williams

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The Guyana Economy Before Oil

This report looks at the state of the Guyana economy at the end of 2018, the last year before the start of oil production. The picture that emerges is one of higher growth than in most other Caribbean countries. The authorities have taken a number of measures to improve the business climate, however, the country’s potential remains stymied by skills shortages and a business environment that constrains investment. In addition, life expectancy, infant mortality, and overall human development indicators compare unfavorably with those of the rest of the Caribbean. With an operating budgetary surplus, low level of debt, and forthcoming oil revenues that will be sustained, there is sufficient fiscal space for higher public investment to improve social conditions. At the same time, structural weaknesses, such as the large size of the public sector and inefficient public enterprises and local governments that absorb a disproportionate amount of resources, have to be addressed. In the financial sector, banks are liquid and broadly profitable, but many face risks, such as low-interest rates on assets, poor loan quality, weak provisioning, legal delays in settling delinquent loans, and relations with related parties. Other risks that require greater attention are those of cyber-crime and climate change.

Published Date: December 2019
Authors: Michael DaCosta, Keith Dublin and Sherwyn Williams

 

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