Centro de Investigación Económica y Presupuestaria

With this grant, the Centro de Investigación Económica y Presupuestaria would use public information to create an interactive, public, Web-based tool that would allow the community of practice and citizens in general to evaluate different fiscal scenarios for Mexico. This simulator would produce evidence-based data to support policy recommendations, help place public finances at the center of public debate, and foster citizen participation. The fiscal simulator allows changes to income variables such as income tax, VAT, oil, and other taxes, as well as modify government expenditure to evaluate Mexico’s public spending, effectiveness, long-term fiscal sustainability, and public policy design in general.

The Centro de Investigación Económica y Presupuestaria is a young nonpartisan think tank dedicated to informing public debate on fiscal and budget policy in Mexico. With this grant, the Centro will use public information to create an accessible, web-based tool that will simulate the effects of various changes to Mexico’s tax policy on the overall public budget. Simulations will model the fiscal impacts of declining oil revenue and an aging population, among other factors. The project will educate stakeholders on the importance of taking into account how Mexico’s public income is currently composed, and the risks associated with continued reliance only on existing revenue streams that will not be able to sustain current public spending practices over time. The results of the analysis will contribute to public education campaigns on the need for fiscal reform to improve Mexico’s overall financial health in the coming years.