Strategies for Fiscal Consolidation in the Post-Crisis World

""The crisis and associated increases in fiscal deficits and government debts have resulted in a daunting fiscal challenge, especially for advanced economies. To help anchor fiscal solvency expectations, credible fiscal exit strategies aimed at reducing government debt to prudent levels need to be designed and communicated now. Achieving and maintaining prudent debt levels will require a major and sustained fiscal adjustment. Most of the adjustment will have to stem from fiscal structural reforms. Letting the fiscal stimulus expire should be straightforward from a technical standpoint, because much of the stimulus has consisted of temporary measures. However, this will be only a first step to ensure government debt trends consistent with fiscal sustainability. The bulk of the adjustment will require more difficult reforms to improve the structural primary balance."--Publisher's website.