2013年-IMF国际货币组织全球_Haiti_Selected_Issues_29页_763kb

Haiti Selected Issues Summary

Core Content

This document outlines key recommendations for optimizing fiscal policy in Haiti to achieve high and inclusive growth. It emphasizes the need for improving revenue collection, enhancing infrastructure and human capital development, and reforming the tax system to better support economic activities and reduce inequality.

Main Points

A. Raising Revenue

• Current Revenue Performance: Tax revenue as a percentage of GDP increased from 10.7% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2011, but remains below international standards, with a goal of reaching 15%.
• Tax Composition: The bulk of tax revenue comes from international trade and turnover taxes, while income tax collection is weak (2.5% of GDP).
• Tax Rates and Structure:
  • Corporate income tax is at 30%, similar to neighboring countries.
  • Personal income tax has a minimum rate of 10% and a top rate of 30%, which disproportionately affects middle-income earners.
• Tax Expenditures: Estimated at 4.1% of GDP in 2011, primarily due to exemptions for international organizations, diplomatic missions, and certain industries.
• Exemptions:
  • The 2002 Investment Code and Free Trade Zone (FTZ) laws provide tax incentives for specific sectors and investments.
  • These incentives are seen as a potential source of revenue loss.
• Reforms Needed:
  • Streamlining tax exemptions to ensure revenue gains without harming business or donor support.
  • Introducing a Value Added Tax (VAT) to replace the turnover tax to increase tax base and attract more businesses.
  • Improving tax administration and reducing inefficiencies.

B. Upgrading Infrastructure and Human Capital

• Infrastructure Deficits:
  • Only 40% of the population has access to electricity and 69% to water.
  • Road density is low, with 15 km per 100 km² of land.
  • Access to mobile phones is also limited, with only 40 subscribers per 100 people.
• Capital Spending:
  • Increased from 1.6% of GDP in 2007 to 6.5% in 2012, but execution remains weak.
  • Execution capacity is low, with a large portion of capital spending concentrated in the last quarter of the fiscal year.
• Recommendations:
  • Better coordination among government ministries and donors.
  • Strengthening project management and information systems.
  • Focusing on long-term infrastructure development to support growth.
• Human Capital:
  • Social indicators are low, with Haiti ranking 158 out of 187 countries in the UNDP Human Development Index in 2011.
  • Literacy rates, health outcomes, and maternal mortality are below regional averages.
  • Education and health spending are below the regional average, at 2.1% and 1.4% of GDP respectively.
  • Social spending needs to be increased to improve human capital and productivity.

Key Information

• Fiscal Policy Objectives: To promote macroeconomic stability, increase revenue, and support growth and poverty reduction.
• Tax System Inefficiencies:
  • Heavy reliance on indirect taxes from international trade.
  • Inefficient income tax collection.
  • Non-progressive personal income tax structure.
  • Large tax expenditures and exemptions.
• Infrastructure Needs:
  • Poor access to electricity and water.
  • Low road density and mobile phone penetration.
  • Inadequate capital spending execution.
• Social Spending:
  • Insufficient investment in education and health.
  • Reliance on international donors for healthcare services post-earthquake.
• Recommendations:
  • Introduce VAT and improve income tax structure.
  • Strengthen revenue administration and reduce inefficiencies.
  • Streamline tax exemptions.
  • Improve project implementation and increase social spending.

Conclusion

Fiscal policy in Haiti must be reoriented to support development and inclusive growth. While progress has been made in some areas, significant challenges remain in revenue mobilization, tax structure, and infrastructure and human capital development. Addressing these issues will require comprehensive reforms in taxation and public investment frameworks.