Question 105

Does the Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) publish its own costings of new policy proposals, to assess their impact on the budget?
 * a. Yes, the IFI publishes its own costings of all new policy proposals.
 * b. Yes, the IFI publishes its own costings of major new policy proposals.
 * c. Yes, the IFI publishes its own costings of a limited number of new policy proposals.
 * d. No, there is no IFI; or the IFI does not publish its own costings of new policy proposals.
 * e. Not applicable/other (please comment).

OBS Guidelines
Question 105 assesses whether an Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) has a costing function that involves assessing the budgetary implications of new policy proposals for both revenues and expenditures, and if so, what kind of role it has. Many IFIs have a costing role, but with substantial diversity in the nature and extent of this work (von Trapp et al 2016, pp. 17-18 and Table 2). Some assess virtually all new policy proposals, while others cost only a selection of new policy proposals. Others only publish opinions on, or scrutinize the costings of, budget measures produced by the executive.

To answer “a,” the IFI must publish its own costings of all (or virtually all) new policy proposals. Answer “b” applies if the IFI publishes its own costings, but only for major new policy proposals – for instance, only those proposals that cost or save above a certain amount. Answer “c” applies if the IFI publishes its own costings, but only on a limited number of proposals. This could occur, for instance, if the IFI lacked the capacity to assess proposals dealing with certain sectors. Instead of producing a cost estimate, it can also publish an assessment of the estimates produced by the executive. Answer “d” applies if there is no IFI; or if the IFI does not publish its own costings of new policy proposals or provide an assessment of the official costings of new policy proposals.