Economic Policy Monitor 2010: Fiscal Space, Investment, and Poverty Alleviation

---

Government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) strengthens its contribution to policy deliberations by releasing its first PIDS Economic Policy Monitor (EPM) starting 2011. The EPM approach is twofold: to consistently identify policy issues that need to be addressed and their corresponding policy recommendations in certain instances; and to discuss and analyze the impact or potential impact of recent policy measures. This first issue of the PIDS Economic Policy Monitor focuses on three related issues: fiscal space, investment, and poverty alleviation. With a 7.3 percent growth achieved in the country`s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010, a feat that was beyond expectations of all analysts, the challenge for the government is to sustain this momentum and make economic growth more inclusive so that poverty may be reduced. The EPM thus looks at how the government can improve its fiscal position to close the national deficit and have the needed resources to finance the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and achieve inclusive growth for the economy. The EPM likewise provides an assessment of the Philippines` poverty situation from a new perspective.