From the Editors

IStock-503789528

Today, September 27th, marks the 10th birthday of the PFM Blog!

It seems only yesterday that the idea of a blog was first mooted in the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD). The idea was brand new then - the first external blog published by the IMF, and the first ever blog on Public Financial Management. The two originators and first editors were Michel Lazare and Bill Dorotinsky, enthusiasts both.  One of the first articles was a well-disguised piece on corruption with the intriguing title “You Know About Bono and U2: What about U4?” Contributors were roped in from around the corridors of FAD, sometimes following a hefty dose of arm-twisting!

The blog has gone from strength to strength. The statistics speak for themselves – more than 1,200 articles posted, 1.35 million viewers from 368 cities and 141 countries across the globe, an average 400 hits a day, reaching nearly 2,000 on some days. One change since 2007, when the blog’s authors were FAD-dominated, is that about 40 percent of articles are now written by contributors from outside the IMF. The blog now presents a global view of PFM. It provides a forum for government officials, practitioners, and managers to share and debate the latest thinking, reform theories, and experiences of PFM from around the world.

As we look forward to the next ten years, the objective set out by Michel and Bill in September 2007 - that the blog should be “a reference standard for all those interested in PFM” – remains valid. We continue to welcome external contributions, and are always willing to stretch the definition of PFM a little to accommodate an interesting or topical piece. Don't hesitate to let us know if you have ideas that would make the blog even more useful and relevant for its global audience.

 Richard Allen and Teresa Curristine

Note: The posts on the IMF PFM Blog should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy.

Recent