Stabilization and Savings Funds for Nonrenewable Resources : Experience and Fiscal Policy Implications

The revenues from exploiting large exhaustible resources such as oil can pose signinficant challenges for a country. Expenditure must be planned and insulated from revenue shocks arising from the volatility and unpredictability of resource prices. Some countries are considering setting up non-renewable resource funds (NRFs), which are also designed to ensure that savings are made for future generations. This publication examines NRFs under the following headings: policy implications; funds and their rationale; operational aspects; effectiveness.