IMF says State should support ‘hard hit’ sectors in event of no-deal Brexit

The Government should provide support to hard-hit sectors in the event of a no-deal Brexit, but otherwise let the economy operate freely to support itself, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

Following its annual consultations with member countries, the fund acknowledged that Ireland was "uniquely vulnerable to a no-deal Brexit". If the risk associated with a no-deal were to materialise, it said the Government should let "automatic fiscal stabilisers operate freely" and provide targeted support to troubled sectors, likely to include businesses in the agri-food sector.

However, it added the caveat that a fiscal stimulus may be called for “depending on the severity of the downturn in the broader economy”.

In the case of a sharp credit contraction, the IMF suggested that the countercyclical capital buffer could be released, meaning banks wouldn’t have to hold as much capital as they currently do.

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“Directors emphasised the need for continued engagement in international cooperation. Close co-operation with the EU and the UK should continue to avoid cliff-edge risks related to Brexit,” the IMF’s report said.

“While healthy economic growth continues, it is clear that there are significant challenges ahead,” said Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.

“With these risks in mind, the Government will continue to implement prudent budgetary policy, building resilience against external shocks, while avoiding domestic overheating of the economy.”

Commentators have suggested the risk of a no-deal Brexit has risen following the demise of Theresa May’s premiership and the possibility that Boris Johnson will replace her.

Repercussions

Such a risk could cause serious repercussions for Irish economic growth, the Central Bank previously suggested. The regulator forecast growth of 1.5 per cent would be witnessed this year in the event of a no-deal. In the normal run of events it expects growth to be about 4 per cent this year.

In April, the bank did, however, warn that its no-deal forecasts may underestimate the full impact of Brexit on the Irish economy as it represents such an “unprecedented” shift in trading relations.

Such an view was recently echoed by the State’s fiscal watchdog, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC), which said the outlook was “unusually uncertain” as a result of Brexit.

It added that a disorderly Brexit posed “profound risks to the public finances”, and the shock to the economy could result in the Republic’s debt ratio rising. In a disorderly Brexit, the Government may need to cut spending or raise taxes, it also said.

The IMF was broadly positive about the Republic’s economic position. However, it backed up suggestions from IFAC to ensure that the economy had sufficient buffers.

Such suggestions include saving additional corporate tax revenue, broadening the tax base to reduce dependency on uncertain revenues, reforming personal income taxation to make it more efficient, and enforcing spending limits.

“Reforming the income tax and cancelling the USC appears to be potentially beneficial, especially to reduce the administrative burden and align work incentives,” the fund said.

“A reform should, however, preserve the overall income tax progressivity and tax yield, which could be achieved by a broader tax base, more tax bands and higher tax rates.”

Bottlenecks

Meanwhile, the Government should address key growth bottlenecks, the report said.

The IMF encouraged authorities to continue efforts to boost housing supply, “including through further rationalising building regulations”.

It also saw the need to boost productivity in domestic companies by funding innovation, employee-training programmes and infrastructure investments. The State should also continue to increase female employment, “notably through the affordable child care programme”.