technology

Digital Revolutions in Public Finance: A New Book by the IMF

With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest book, entitled, “Digital Revolutions in Public Finance," at a launch event in Washington, DC on 7 November. The book, edited by Sanjeev Gupta, Michael Keen, Alpa Shah and Geneviève Verdier, captures the research originally presented at the Digital Revolutions in Public Finance Forum held during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in April 2017, and focuses on the opportunities offered by digital transformation and the issues which must be confronted in implementing such initiatives in both developed and developing countries.  During the book launch, the panel made a clear distinction between the process of digitization, putting old processes online, and using technology to transform the processes (making life easier for governments, business, and individual citizens). With digitalization being the desired outcome, the book illustrates various government finance initiatives and best practices from around the world.