Uganda Economic Update, June 2014 : Reducing Old Age and Economic Vulnerabilities
This is the fourth edition of the Uganda Economic Update series. As with previous editions, this update first provides information related to the current state of the economy before focusing on a particular subject of importance. The special focus...
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Format: | Economic Updates and Modeling |
Language: | English en_US |
Published: |
Washington, DC
2014
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/06/19705558/reducing-old-age-economic-vulnerabilities-uganda-improve-pension-system http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18731 |
Summary: | This is the fourth edition of the Uganda
Economic Update series. As with previous editions, this
update first provides information related to the current
state of the economy before focusing on a particular subject
of importance. The special focus of this issue concerns how
pensions can reduce vulnerabilities at both individual and
macroeconomic levels. The Ugandan economy has continued the
process of recovery, growing by 5.9 percent during the first
half of FY2013 and FY2014 amidst droughts, disruptions
related to civil unrest in South Sudan, and aid cuts. Eight
consecutive quarters of positive growth since the slump in
FY2011 and FY2012 confirm that the economy has returned on
the strong growth path and may reach a rate of growth of 6.0
percent per annum in FY2013 and FY2014. The positive outlook
is subject to risks, key among which will be those emanating
from its fiscal management regime due to continuous low
revenue collection and reduction of aid to Uganda; increased
spending pressures in the advent of the 2016 elections, and
accelerating public investments amidst gaps in public
investment efficiency. In addition, given its recently
increased dependency on the South Sudan market for its
exports, the protracted crisis in South Sudan could have
severe consequences to the Ugandan economy. In that context,
a coherent policy of social protection, including for the
elderly, can promote social transformation and accelerate
economic development. An effective social protection system
is needed to protect vulnerable groups from negative shocks
such as loss of employment, death of bread winner, or bad
weather. Achieving the vision of a transformed Uganda means
addressing vulnerabilities at both individual and at country
levels. Uganda is already taking steps to start building an
effective pension system, but challenges remain in ensuring
transparent and proper governance of the pension funds;
achieving efficiency objectives, building up the
institutional capacity, and managing the fiscal pressures
due to expenses to existing pensions and the new public
pension scheme at the same time. Well designed and managed
pension systems can contribute significantly to the
country's ongoing transformation. |
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