Discussants:
Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno, Dr. Raul V. Fabella, Dr. Felipe M. Medalla
With the world economy still in the doldrums, where will the impetus for economic recovery and job generation come from? Is there room for growth beyond what OFW remittances can deliver in the foreseeable future? How can investor confidence be restored? Given its poor performance on the revenue front, what can the government realistically do to jumpstart the economy?
In principle, only public expenditures that contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction ought to be chosen. What reforms in which institutions are necessary for achieving such an outcome? How can growth be made inclusive? What are the prospects for reversing the decline in basic education enrollment rates? Is there scope for further expanding public spending for health and other social services without having to reform tax rates?
These are just some of the issues to be discussed by a panel of economists, most of whom have grappled with questions such as these not only as academics, but as senior economic managers in four administrations, dealing in real time with difficult policy trade-offs, often against strong vested interests and working through weak, sometimes even compromised institutions.
View Dr. Balisacan’s slides
View Dr. Diokno’s slides
View Dr. Fabella’s slides
View Dr. Medalla’s slides