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This two-module online course, presented by the Institute for Capacity Development, explains how to project the evolution of public debt (i.e., government debt) over time, for a given set of projections of the relevant macro-fiscal variables.
This course, lays out the underpinnings of public debt dynamics (i.e., of the evolution of public debt over time) and explains how these concepts are applied in the easy-to-use Excel-based Public Debt Dynamics Tool (DDT). The DDT provides public debt projections under a baseline and alternative scenarios, including through fan charts that represent the uncertainty about the evolution of public debt. The DDT also identifies the main drivers of public debt changes and computes fiscal adjustments paths that would be necessary to achieve a user-defined public debt target after a user-defined adjustment period.
Some knowledge of economics is helpful. Basic Microsoft Excel skills and access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection and a Google Chrome web browser are essential.
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
Recognize key concepts for the projection of public debt.
Use simple calculations to project public debt.
Identify the key contributors to changes in the public debt-to-GDP ratio.
Compute fiscal paths that would allow to achieve a user-defined public debt target.
Produce projections of the debt ratio under alternative scenarios, including fan charts.
