WHAT WE DO
ICePP has significant expertise in a broad realm of public policy issues and provides policy advice and professional training in the following areas:
Fiscal Policy: Due to the comprehensive nature of the fiscal reform, fiscal policy reforms often require consideration of a large number of related fiscal aspects, including reform of the tax structure, tax administration, budget management, pension systems, and intergovernmental fiscal relations. Although many practitioners specialize in a particular piece of the fiscal system, the depth and breadth of the International Center for Public Policy allows us to take into account both the individual components of the fiscal system (such as individual taxes or expenditure programs), as well as the architecture of the fiscal system as a whole.
Fiscal Decentralization: Fiscal decentralization and subnational fiscal policy plays an increasingly important role in sound public policy and democratic governance around the world. By yielding greater fiscal responsibilities to regional and local governments, the public sector can be more flexible in response to variations in regional and local needs as well as demands for public services. As a result, decentralization of the public sector also increases citizen participation in the governance process and enhances government accountability. The Andrew Young School’s faculty experts are at the forefront of the design and implementation of all aspects of decentralization reform, including issues surrounding local government structure, expenditure assignments, local revenue mobilization, intergovernmental grants, and local government borrowing.
Public Administration, Budgeting and Financial Management: Public administration is increasingly recognized as a crucial fiscal policy tool in the public sector. The introduction of modern fiscal management techniques at all levels of government is needed to ensure that the three objectives of expenditure management (aggregate fiscal discipline, expenditure prioritization, and operational efficiency) are achieved. Fiscal management techniques that are becoming increasingly pertinent in developing and transitional economies include placement of the budget process in the context of a medium-term budget strategy, devolution of budget responsibilities, and the introduction of performance-based budget techniques.
Evaluation: International development efforts are often results-based to ensure programs arrive at the stated policy goals. Without evidence of results, decision makers cannot be sure if they should allocate additional public funds to the existing programmatic intervention. Some of the abiding questions for development workers and policymakers include: How does one make public expenditure efficacious and effective? What is the best way to introduce an innovation into a public program? How can solutions be scaled up and made sustainable? What works in a particular environment? Program evaluation seeks answers to such questions. It is a systematic assessment of the process and outcomes of a public activity carried out with the specific intent of advancing development. It works best if structured as a collaborative process enabling evaluators to work closely with ministry officials.