Mmegi

IMF throws its two cents into savings debate

Offering advice: The IMF recommends the establishment of a full sovereign wealth fund in the country PIC: EASTASIAFORUM.COM
Offering advice: The IMF recommends the establishment of a full sovereign wealth fund in the country PIC: EASTASIAFORUM.COM

The IMF recommends that Botswana transform the Pula Fund into a sovereign wealth fund that would be funded by a set commitment to budget surpluses and used to boost the country’s weakening savings. MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Researchers at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently published a 20-page report detailing the urgency and benefits of transforming the Pula Fund into a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and weighing the various ways government could do this.

Through various scenarios and comparison with best-case SWFs in Norway and Chile, the researchers estimated that maintaining an overall budget surplus of about one percent of Gross Domestic Product over the medium term and channelling this to an SWF, would be sufficient to create a credible insurance buffer against shocks.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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