Are we Heading Towards an Austerity-based Recovery?

In the third year of the pandemic, we are seeing a sudden and worrying roll back of crucial fiscal support that earlier helped cushion the devastating impact of the crisis with countries now adopting austerity measures before the pandemic is even over. Through its advice and conditionality, new evidence reveals the IMF is encouraging many countries down this path which consistently undermines the lives, rights and wellbeing of those most vulnerable. From Tunisia to Argentina, from Zambia to Nigeria, this panel will explore how the trend of austerity is materializing across the world and present alternatives for a fair recovery with a focus on taxing wealth.

• Moderator: Kate Donald, Director of Program, Center for Economic and Social Rights
• Panelist 1: Paolo Mauro, Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
• Panelist 2: Nadia Daar, Head of Washington DC Office, Oxfam International
• Panelist 3: Lionel Stiglitz, Research Coordinator, Fundación SES
• Panelist 4: Amine Bouzaiene, Fiscal Policy Lead, Bawsala

*Simultaneous interpretation in French, Arabic and Spanish available when joining via Webex