Raising inclusive growth – some thoughts for Colombia from the OECD? Piritta Sorsa OECD Economics Department Bogota, 21 April 2014 Colombia’s growth performance has been quite good But mainly driven by the commodity boom The commodity sector and services have boosted the economy Concerns of a Dutch disease and competitiveness in non-mining? Price inflation remains moderate but wages have grown faster This has hidden slow productivity growth Productivity growth has been smaller than some Latin American peers (based on 2013) Growth has also been quite unequal Gini index Gini index 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Late-2000s Around 2000 And unemployment has declined only slowly (2013, source: OECD database and DANE website). % Labour market regulations contribute to informality, unemployment and productivity The minimum wage is relatively high Ratio of minimum wage to average wage % 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Non-wage labour costs are high by international standards As per cent of labour costs, 2011 - Colombia before and after tax reform % 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 % 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Informality rises with the relative level of the minimum wage • Inequality is also influenced by the tax system that redistributes little Tax revenues are low and consumption taxes dominate (2011) And that transfers to households are small and not progressive overall • Pension coverage is low and social assistance is limited, leaving many elderly in poverty. The new BEPs are a step in the right direction • Familias en Accion: an effective tool to reduce poverty if well targeted • Cross-subsidies on utilities: not well targeted and effective How to promote inclusive growth? influenced by many factors that are interlinked • Formal job creation can be enhanced by greater flexibility of the economy (in particular through labour reforms) • Minimum wage? Differentiate by region? The tax and transfer system should redistribute more • The government tax reform is promising in lowering non-wage labour costs, but more may be needed • Replace VAT exemptions and utility subsidies by better targeted cash transfers • Cash transfers to households should be more generous and better targeted on those in need • More revenue should be raised over time to meet social needs through less distortive taxes (more green taxes, less tax relief, more property taxes) Productivity is also influenced by low education quality that has produced skill shortages… Students’ performance (PISA scores for Mathematics - 2013) remain well below OECD average Although there has been progress lately progress in coverage is not enough Source: SEDLAC. Inadequate supply of skills is a major concern for Colombian firms It is a concern across a variety of sectors Figure 2.14. Firms reporting an inadequately educated workforce as a very severe or major obstacle, by sector 60 % 50 40 30 20 10 0 Source: World Bank Enterprise Survey, 2012 Skill shortages also exacerbate inequality Source: OECD Education at a Glance and SEDLAC. Increasing the supply of skills will boost equity and productivity • Improve the overall quality of education – basic skills for all • Reduce drop-outs in secondary school (still above 50%) Basic education quality can be improved by • Increase accountability of education institutions by linking part of their resources to performance. Teacher evaluations? • Introduce incentives for teachers based on student performance. • Reduce administrative rigidities for teacher payment and management. • Increase ICETEX student loans and improve their targeting • Increase quality standards and enforcement for education centers to register and operate. Skill development and fixing mismatches • Focus on skills development (including soft) • Develop lifelong learning/training system • Increase relevance of supply and implement mechanisms for anticipating private-sector demands for skills Skills can be enhanced by • Reducing informality as discussed earlier will also raise the incentives to invest in skills. • Introduce outcome indicators for the SENA and the (CERES). Conduct an external evaluation to increase their added value. • Speed up work to implement the national skills certification system (SICECOL). • Include the private sector in the governing boards of education centres. Give more importance to regional employment offices to detect demands for skills and training. Investing more in skills important • Both in basic education and its quality • And in specific skill strategies • As part of inclusive growth strategy • And to deal with challenges of dealing with the commodity boom (skill-intensive growth) OECD skills strategy and PIAAC • www.oecd.org/edu/oecdskillsstrategy.htm • www.oecd.org/site/piaac/ • http://skills.oecd.org/skillsoutlook.html • http://www.oecd.org/countries/colombia/colombia2013.ht m • http://www.oecd.org/eco/economicassessmentofcolombi a2010.htm In sum • Inclusive growth is an important challenge bearing on many interlinked policies • Informality – labour market and tax and transfer reforms needed • Raising productivity and equity calls for reforms to boost quality of basic education • Skill development policies also important • OECD surveys and strategies can contribute to this process – best practices