Fiscal and Monetary Implications of COVID-19 in Africa and Beyond

Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the role, nature and efficiency of the African state has become subject of debate. Like the 2008 global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic will change the structure of economies as we know them today. It is, therefore, an opportune moment to discuss the evolving role of the state, particularly its fiscal and monetary policies. Are fiscal and monetary policies in African countries designed to allow for effective disaster management? How flexible are fiscal and monetary laws? Do these laws allow for the implementation of necessary changes in cases of emergency? How have various African states restructured their fiscal and monetary policies to respond to the novel COVID-19 pandemic? This week's Webinar will answer these and many more questions on fiscal and monetary policies, drawing examples from East Africa. It is part of a Webinar Series that seeks to provide a platform for academics to discuss international, continental, regional and country specific responses to the pandemics and disasters in general in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak which the world has been grappling with since January 2020. For more information on the nature and objectives of the overall series, click here: https://heske.wisdmlabs.net/project/5e8ae46ba6a5c2058bcf3466

Presenter: Professor Attiya Waris, Director Research and Enterprise
Associate Professor of Fiscal Law and Policy, University of Nairobi
Author, Financing Africa (2019)
Presentation Title: Fiscal and Monetary Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic