Technical Assistance Mission Research Articles

Revenue Administration: Short-Term Measures to Increase Customs Revenue in Low-Income and Fragile Countries

This note discusses administrative measures that can be implemented by customs administrations of low-income and fragile countries in a short period (about a year) to improve traders’ compliance and improve revenue collection. These suggested actions have been identified based on the experience acquired through the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Fiscal Affairs Department’s (FAD) technical assistance (TA), particularly the findings and recommendations of TA missions to sub-Saharan African countries. Strengthening low-capacity customs administrations requires structural reforms to support the effective implementation of defined strategies. Developing core operational functions such as risk management, audit, investigation and intelligence are good examples of such reforms. Modernizing human resource management policies or achieving a fully automated environment in a customs administration are longer-term reform projects. Long-term reforms are not addressed here. The note focuses on targeted actions with a potential to increase trade revenue in the short term, and which can be taken without mobilizing large resources or engaging in a broad reorganization. It is hoped that the suggestions in this note will help stakeholders, including country authorities, customs management, donors and TA partners, area departments of the IMF, FAD, and the IMF regional TA centers, identify, design, and implement short-term changes in customs administrations. If implemented effectively, these changes should contribute to a noticeable improvement of revenue performance.

From Nahalal to Danesfahan: the transfer of Israeli modern rurality to village planning in Iran

In 1963, the State of Israel sent a technical assistance mission to the rural region of Qazvin, Iran. Exporting its newly developed knowledge of rural regional planning was Israel's way of securing the fragile relationship with Iran. The mission's objectives included the development of a comprehensive regional plan, and designs for three villages, planned anew, which were to serve as prototypes for other villages to be constructed in the region. The mission's architects noted the need to create a rural character for the villages, and had a clear image of what would create this —trees. This was despite the fact that trees were not a common feature of the region's villages.This article describes the landscape planning of the modern villages conceived for Qazvin by the Israeli mission. It reveals that, while the Israeli architects were committed to planning villages that related to local ways of life and traditions, the image of the village they proposed for Iran was based on the rurality that villages in Israel encompass. The text explores the formation of this image of rurality. It locates the origins of this image in the 1920s Zionist colonisation of Palestine, tracing its development as an important frontier during Israel's nation-building period: one that with time came to symbolise Israel as a rural-yet-modern new nation. This concept, of ‘modern rurality’, was thus transferred to the modernisation of rural Iran. The architects failed to see rurality as specific to a place; they did not recognise that their image of rurality was a modern construct developed in Israel. Along these lines, the article reflects on the transnational effect of the creation of a modern village.

Bhutan: Technical Assistance Report-Report on the External Sector Statistics Technical Assistance Mission (April 2-13, 2018)

As part of the IMF-South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) work program, a technical assistance (TA) mission on external sector statistics (ESS) was conducted during April 2–13, 2018. The mission assisted the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) in compiling and disseminating external debt statistics (EDS) consistent with the international investment position (IIP), reviewed the compilation method of direct investment statistics, and assessed the coverage of external flows related to hydropower projects.

Republic of Uzbekistan: Technical Assistance Report-Report on the External Sector Statistics Mission (November 20-December 1, 2017)

At the request of the Republic of Uzbekistan authorities for technical assistance (TA) on external sector statistics (ESS), and with the support of the Middle East and Central Asia Department (MCD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a mission from the IMF Statistics Department (STA) visited Tashkent from November 20 through December 1, 2017. This was the first TA mission on ESS since the Republic of Uzbekistan Presidential Order of September 12, 2017, “On Measures to Ensure the Accessibility and Openness of Economic and Financial Data for the Republic of Uzbekistan” was issued.

Republic of Belarus: Technical Assistance Report-Work of Mission on Development of Potential in Area of Government Finance Statistics

In consultation with the Republic of Belarus Ministry of Finance (MoF), a government finance statistics (GFS) technical assistance (TA) mission from the IMF’s Statistics Department (STA) visited Minsk from November 13 through 24, 2017. The main objective of the mission was to take stock of the progress in government finance statistics in the Republic of Belarus and to provide assistance to the MoF in improving the quality of statistical data. Government finance statistics provide a comprehensive conceptual and accounting framework suitable for the analysis and evaluation of fiscal policy, and in particular the performance of the general government sector of any country. One of the biggest advantages of the introduction of GFS methodology into budgeting is the achievement of consistency in budgeting, financial reporting, and statistics. Use of the same terminology by those engaged in budgeting, reporting, and statistics should ensure common understanding among all of the stakeholders. The comparability of numbers, tables, and accounts is significantly enhanced, which means an improvement in productivity and in the timely availability of data.

United Kingdom-Anguilla-British Overseas Territory: Technical Assistance Report-Report on External Sector Statistics Mission (March 27-31, 2017)

A technical assistance (TA) mission on external sector statistics (ESS) was conducted in The Valley, Anguilla, during March 27–31, 2017. This was the first mission to Anguilla carried out as part of the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) work program on external sector statistics (ESS) and in response to requests from the Anguilla Statistics Department (ASD) of Anguilla’s Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Commerce, Tourism, Land & Physical Planning (MFED).1 The purpose of the mission was to assist the ASD in strengthening the compilation and dissemination of ESS. This is intended to facilitate a robust assessment of external sector developments and policy impact. Reliable ESS are essential for informed economic policy-making by the authorities.

Dominican Republic: Technical Assistance Report-Report of the Technical Assistance Mission on Financial Accounts Topics (March 16-26, 2015)

Dominican Republic: Technical Assistance Report-Report of the Technical Assistance Mission on Financial Accounts Topics (March 16-26, 2015)

Suriname

In response to a request from the General Bureau of Statistics (GBS) of Suriname and in consultation with IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department (WHD), the Real Sector Statistics Advisor (RSA) at the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) undertook a technical assistance (TA) mission to Paramaribo during February 7–17, 2017, to review and provide advice on improving the national accounts of Suriname, including consistency with the System of National Accounts 2008.

Ida Craven Merriam (1904–1997): A Leading figure in Social Security and Quality of Life Research

Born in 1904 in the United States, Ida C. Merriam began her career in Social Security research shortly after President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935. Over nearly four decades she built the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) research operation into “one of the very best in the Federal government—one that helped immensely in the wise development of Social Security policy,” acknowledged Robert Ball, former commissioner of the SSA. Dr. Merriam served as assistant director and then director of research in the 1950s and as the Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Research and Statistics (ORS) in 1963 until she retired in 1972. During her years with the SSA, she led groundbreaking quality of life studies on disability and health insurance, drafted major reports for congressional committees, directed the publication of Social Security technical studies and statistics, and was a member of a technical assistance mission to Thailand. Dr. Merriam was a 1925 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Wellesley University, where she majored in English and history. After studying economics at the University of Chicago, she transferred to the old Brookings Graduate School of Economics and Government in Washington. She received an economics doctorate from Brookings in 1928. Dr. Merriam was one of six winners of the 1966 Federal Woman’s Award. She Applied Research Quality Life (2013) 8:275–276 DOI 10.1007/s11482-013-9227-9

Peru: Report on the Statistics Technical Assistance and Training Evaluation Mission (December 12: 16, 2011)

Peru: Report on the Statistics Technical Assistance and Training Evaluation Mission (December 12: 16, 2011)

Building community capacity and social infrastructure through landcare: a case study of land grant engagement

In the struggle to remain true to their technical assistance and civic engagement missions in an era of shrinking budgets and increasingly complex accountability claims, land grant universities have developed different engagement strategies to contribute to the development of surrounding communities. Drawing on Flora and Flora’s (in Ann Am Acad Polit Soc Sci, 48, 1993) assertion that a strong and “entrepreneurial” social infrastructure is critical for facilitating lasting change and development in communities (particularly rural communities), this article presents a case study of a land grant university’s engagement with a community landcare group from the perspective of building social capacity in surrounding communities. This case explores Virginia Tech’s involvement in facilitating and supporting Catawba Landcare using three theoretical frames—Ronald Heifetz’s concept of “holding environments” as a safe and facilitated space where social learning can occur; ecological and social entrepreneurship and the roles and functions required to support these forms of entrepreneurship; and the concept of learning action networks in which otherwise disparate partners are linked under common goals and collectively learn how to manage the situation at hand. Using these three theoretical frames, this paper posits landcare as a model of engagement for land grant universities thus contributing to the construction of social infrastructure.

Why Elementary Price Index Number Formulas Differ: Price Dispersion and Product Heterogeneity

The Consumer Price Index Manual (2004) provides guidelines for aggregation formulas that are promulgated at IMF training courses and technical assistance missions. This paper develops elementary level aggregation theory to better inform users and compilers. Most countries use either the Dutot or Jevons index formula. These formulas generally give different results; advice on choice of formula matters. Using an approach based on sample estimators, and an illustration based on scanner data, the paper shows how differences in these formulas can be explained by changes in price dispersion and, in turn, by product heterogeneity. Implications for choice of formula are considered.

Missed Opportunities: Innovation and Resource-Based Growth in Latin America

Economia 3.1 (2002) 111-167 [Access article in PDF] Missed Opportunities: Innovation and Resource-Based Growth in Latin America William F. Maloney [Comments] [Figures] [Tables] The twentieth century offered opportunities for rapid resource-based growth that Latin America systematically missed. Even if it were clear that resource-abundant countries have, on average, experienced relatively slow growth, the more interesting question is why some—Australia, Canada, and the nations of Scandinavia, for example—developed successfully while others did not. 1 This paper argues that the causes of Latin America's underperformance and acute sense of dependency can be found in barriers, with deep historical roots, to technological adoption and innovation. The most important was and remains deficient [End Page 111] national "learning capacity," exacerbated in the postwar period by the perverse incentives of inward-looking development policies. Concerns that resource-based sectors intrinsically lack dynamism have probably been exaggerated. 2 Even in Prebisch's era, future Nobel Prize winner Douglass North argued that "the contention that regions must industrialize in order to continue to grow . . . [is] based on some fundamental misconceptions," while the pioneer trade economist Jacob Viner held that "there are no inherent advantages of manufacturing over agriculture." 3 Viner's claim is supported by estimates that total factor productivity (TFP) growth, which explains roughly half of the differences in the growth of per capita gross domestic product (GDP), was roughly twice as high in agriculture as in manufacturing globally from 1967 to 1992. 4 Blomström and Kokko argue that forestry will remain a dynamic sector in Sweden and Finland, where rapid productivity growth ensures competitiveness relative to emerging low-wage producers. 5 Wright draws on the early experiences of the United States and Australia to demonstrate that the stock of minerals is, to an important degree, endogenous, and major increases in productivity can be realized in discovery and exploitation. 6 More generally, the literature clearly indicates that these development successes based their growth on natural resources, and by Leamer's measure of resource abundance, several still do (see figure 1). 7 Latin America seemed unable to follow their lead. As a crude summary, regressing Maddison's well-known growth data from 1820-1989 (table 1) on Leamer's measure of resource abundance suggests that resources had a positive growth impact from 1820-1950, but that Latin America's especially poor performance in the postwar period is responsible for the apparent [End Page 112] resource curse afflicting that era. 8 This underperformance is illustrated more starkly by several examples at the microeconomic level. Despite being far from the innovation frontier, and thus having the potential to play catch-up, the growth of total factor productivity in Latin America in both agriculture and manufacturing perversely lags that of the countries at the technological frontier (see figure 2). 9 The 1944 Haig technical assistance mission to Chile revealed the "indisputable truth that an adequate management of our forests could become the basis for a great industry of forest products," yet nothing remotely similar to the dynamic Scandinavian [End Page 113] experience appeared in this country until the late 1970s. 10 Wright categorizes Latin American countries as traditional mineral underachievers, and massive discoveries of deposits throughout the region in recent years confirm his view. 11 More emblematically, the question arises why it was Australia, another small antipodal dependency, that discovered La Escondida, Chile's largest copper mine, a century after Chile's once-dominant native industry had all but vanished. [End Page 114] Central to every example are the forgone opportunities to exploit the global stock of knowledge to increase productivity growth and create, or perpetuate, dynamic industries, as the Nordic and East Asian miracles have done. 12 Or, to paraphrase Di Tella's broader historical view, the region proved unable to move beyond a state of exploiting the pure rents of a frontier or extraction of mineral riches, and beyond the collusive rents offered by state-sanctioned or otherwise imposed monopoly, to tap the "unlimited source of growth" found in exploiting the quasi-rents of innovation. 13 [End Page 115] This failure...

An Overview of Family Planning in Korea (1961-1978)

Family planning in Korea during the last 2 decades is reviewed. In recognition of the fact that gains made in improving Koreas standard of living were being offset by concurrent gains in population growth the national government included family planning in its 1962-1966 5 year-plan. As a consequence prohibiting regulations were repealed domestic production of contraceptives was encouraged a family planning advisory committee was established and about $336000 was appropriated for 1962 to initiate the program. 366 family planning workers were trained in 1962 and 2 were assigned to each family planning clinic of the nations 183 county health centers. A nationwide information program was also carried out. The efforts of 2 university family planning research teams are described along with the activities of the Two Children Club the Korean Institute for Family Planning the Korean Association for Voluntary Sterilization and the In-Country Technical Assistance Mission for the Family Planning Program in Korea. The national demographic goal was to reduce the growth rate to 25 20 15 and 13/1000 by the end of each 5-year development planning period (1966 1971 1976 and 1981. To achieve such a goal targets for family planning practice rates were set. The government program was directed primarily at the rural population and poor urban population. In 1964 1473 female family planning workers were recruited and 1 was assigned to each township. Family planning workers issue coupons to those couples motivated to obtain free supplies at nearby clinics or health centers hospitals or designated private practitioners. By 1968 the cumulative total achievement of family planning services delivered by the national program were approximately 4350000 IUD insertions 2000000 couple years protection (CYP) by oral contraceptives (OCs) 250000 CYP by condom 850000 sterilizations and 100000 cases of menstrual regulation. The estimated number of births averted is about 2 million. Korea has spent about U.S. $100 million for the family planning program. According to the 1978 Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) survey 21% of eligible couples were currently practicing contraception on their own while 28% were using government services. The tremendous increase of sterilization in the last 2 years is another encouraging sign of improvement in the programs use-effectiveness. The programs strong points and problem areas are identified.

IHD Coordinating Council: Paris November 22–26, 1971

The Seventh Session of the Coordinating Council approved the post‐Decade International Hydrological Program (IHP) presented by an ad hoc Working Group of eight member nations and suggested that a Council, similar to the existing one, be initiated to implement the IHP, starting on January 1, 1975.In addition, the Council passed nine resolutions dealing with its Working Groups, and one each concerned with its enlarged membership, the preparation of a history of the IHD, the intensification of regional coordination among National Committees, and the need for greater support for technical assistance missions.

AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY OF DIARRHEA IN AN ALIEN STUDENT POPULATION IN CAIRO, EGYPT.

DIARRHEAL DISEASE is a principal hazard for tourists and aliens in tropical areas.1 Increase in commercial, diplomatic, and technical assistance missions to tropical areas emphasizes the practical urgency of this problem. This is a report of a study of possible etiologic microbiologic agents in subjects and in relation to acute diarrheal disease in a tropical area. Etiologic significance of Enteroviruses, notably Coxsackie and Echo viruses to occurrence of acute diarrhea, was of particular interest. Their role has been suggested by various investigators.2A5 A school health program at Cairo American College afforded opportunity to study this problem. It was hypothesized that a significant relationship between the simultaneous occurrence of the potential pathogen and acute diarrhea could be demonstrated, and conversely absence of pathogens (except carrier states) from the normal individuals. This reports the isolation of possible pathogens from fecal specimens collected from students during episodes of diarrhea and at times when they were free of diarrhea.

Influence of Fungicides Upon Root Knot Development of Cowpeas and Lima Beans1

Crop ScienceVolume 1, Issue 5 cropsci1961.0011183X000100050011x p. 336-338 Article Influence of Fungicides Upon Root Knot Development of Cowpeas and Lima Beans1 Darrell G. Wells, Darrell G. Wells Agronomist, Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Statiom formerly on technical assistance mission to Nigeria. Appreciation is expressed for the help of Mr. Ikem and Mr. Ariyibi, Agricultural Assistants, and Mr. J. O. Bukota, Federal Photographer, Moor Plantation. The help of Dr. W. J. Drapala, Mississippi Exp. Sta. Statistician, with the statistical analyses is gratefully acknowledged.Search for more papers by this author Darrell G. Wells, Darrell G. Wells Agronomist, Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Statiom formerly on technical assistance mission to Nigeria. Appreciation is expressed for the help of Mr. Ikem and Mr. Ariyibi, Agricultural Assistants, and Mr. J. O. Bukota, Federal Photographer, Moor Plantation. The help of Dr. W. J. Drapala, Mississippi Exp. Sta. Statistician, with the statistical analyses is gratefully acknowledged.Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 September 1961 https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1961.0011183X000100050011x 1 Contribution from International Development Services, Inc., and International Cooperation Administration Technical Assistance Mission to the Western Region Government, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal Paper No. 906 of the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station, State College, Miss. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume1, Issue5September–October 1961Pages 336-338 RelatedInformation

International Civil Aviation Organization

The eleventh session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly met in Montreal from May 20 to June 2, 1958. Represented at the meeting were 52 contracting states; two non-contracting states (the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia) sent observers, as did the UN, the International Labor Organization, and the International Air Transport Association. After statements by various delegations, the President of the ICAO Council reviewed the activities of the organization since the last Assembly meeting in 1956. He stated that the intervening period had been one of great activity in ICAO centering around preparations in all fields for the advent of turbine-powered aircraft. A specially created Jet Operations Requirements Panel had studied the requirements of the new long-range jet aircraft, and a Special Implementation Panel had been created by the Council. A preliminary study of the economic implications of long-range aircraft had been prepared by the Air Transport Committee and was being submitted to the Council. He stressed that while special attention was being given to the coming operations of jet aircraft, this emphasis should not cause the organization to disregard the continuous growth of aviation during 1956 and 1957. The technical assistance activity of ICAO had continued, during the period under review, to give important support to implementation through the assignment of experts and technicians and the training of students in countries where there were technical assistance missions, as also by granting fellowships and scholarships for study abroad.

World Meteorological Organization

Reviewing the year's activities, the annual report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for 1957 stated that WMO technical assistance to underdeveloped countries had reached a new high in number of national weather services aided and number of experts sent to the countries. WMO provided experts or granted fellowships to 26 countries or territories during the year, under the UN Expanded Program of Technical Assistance, and sent instruments and equipment used in weather reporting and forecasting in connection with technical assistance missions to Afghanistan, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland, Nicaragua, Sudan, and Uruguay. During this period 24 fellowships were awarded for advanced training of personnel in weather forecasting, tropical meteorology, hurricane forecasting, maritime meteorology, and aerology.

Book Review

Book reviewed in this articles: O.E.E.C. Pasture and Fodder Production in North‐West Europe. Technical Assistance Mission