Government Finance Statistics by International Monetary Fund via Edx: Fee, Duration, How to Apply

Quick Facts

particular	details
Medium of instructions English	Mode of learning Self study	Mode of Delivery Video and Text Based	Learning efforts 4-6 Hours Per Week

Course overview

The Government Finance Statistics certification course, curated by the Statistics Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is an introductory and self-paced study. The programme allows you to explore the practical and theoretical elements of the compilation and dissemination of fiscal statistics as per international standards. The data helps facilitate international economic comparisons and evaluate the effect of government’s activities on any country’s economy.

The Government Finance Statistics online course utilises the IMF’s Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014’s Government Finance Statistics (GFS) framework to examine data compilation’s practical aspects. The curriculum discusses the definitions, basic concepts, classifications and presentation tables, and accounting rules of the GFS framework. This Economics and Finance training also teaches you the value of comprehensive, internationally comparable, and consistent GFS.

Moreover, at the Government Finance Statistics programme end, you will be adept at using the key GFS indicators in monitoring, designing, and evaluating fiscal policies. The training entails no prerequisites and has an estimated 10-week duration. The instructors are experts from the economics and finance domain, all presently working with the IMF. EdX provides two options to enrol in the course; the verified and audit tracks. In the verified track, the learners will have to pay the course fee and will get unlimited access to the programme and a certificate of completion. Whereas in the audit track, they can access it free of cost and audit for a limited duration.

Course and certificate fees

Type of course

Free

The Government Finance Statistics certificate is available at a fee.

Fee structure

Course Name	Fees in INR
Certificate fees	Rs. 2,088

certificate availability

Yes

certificate providing authority

International Monetary Fund

certificate fees

₹2,088

Eligibility criteria

For the Government Finance Statistics training by edX, there are no academic or professional prerequisites.

What you will learn

Financial management

After you finish edX’s Government Finance Statistics syllabus, you will excel in the following:

Classifying the basic government flows and stock positions as per the GFSM 2014
Explaining the definitions, accounting principles, basic concepts, classifications and presentation tables in the GFS framework
Applying various general principles to classify entities in the relevant subsectors and the public sector, including the public corporations and the general government
Explaining the way analytical balances are calculated and the main GFS aggregates
Recording stocks and fiscal flows related to the activities from the public sector entities, following the GFSM 2014 classifications and guidelines
Developing a migration plan which can adopt the GFSM 2014 methodologies
Understanding what these calculations say about the impact of government’s activities on the economy
Recognising the value of internationally comparable, comprehensive, and consistent GFS
Compiling and disseminating GFS as per the international guidelines
Using key GFS indicators in designing, monitoring, and evaluating fiscal policies

The syllabus

Module 0: Course Overview

About the Course
For Government Officials

Entry Survey and Pre-Course Test

Entry Survey
Pre-Course Test (25 Questions)

Module 1: Government Finance Statistics Framework

Why Do We Need the Government Finance Statistics Framework? (6 Questions)
Key Concepts in the GFS Framework (5 Questions)
GFS Summary Statements (8 Questions)
Coding System in the GFS Framework (2 Questions)
Summary

Module 2: The Accounting Rules

Double-entry Accounting, Time of Recording Flows, Accrual of Interest, Arrears (5 Questions)
Valuation, Currency, Netting of Flows and Stocks Positions (6 Questions)
Consolidation (11 Questions)
Summary

Module 3: Institutional Units and the Public Sector

Institutional Units and Sectorization in the GFS Framework (12 Questions)
Delineating the Public Sector (10 Questions)
Summary
Ask the expert

Module 4: Revenue Transactions

Concept of GFS Revenue (5 Questions)
Revenue Classification (5 Questions)
Recording of Taxes (4 Questions)
Recording of Social Contributions, Grants, and Other Revenue (5 Questions)
Time of Recording Issues for Revenue (4 Questions)
Summary

Module 5: Expense and Expenditure Transactions

Concept of GFS Expense (5 Questions)
Economic Classification of Expense (5 Questions)
Transactions in Nonfinancial Assets (5 Questions)
Time of Recording for Expenses and Expenditure (4 Questions)
Classification of the Functions of Government (COFOG) (4 Questions)
Summary

Module 6: The Integrated Balance Sheet

Overview of the Integrated Balance Sheet (5 Questions)
Transactions in Financial Assets and Liabilities (5 Questions)
Other Economic Flows in Assets and Liabilities (9 Questions)
Stock Positions in Financial Assets and Liabilities (8 Questions)
The Integrated Balance Sheet (3 Questions)
Summary
Ask the Expert

Module 7: The GFS Plan: Implementation and Dissemination

GFS Plan: Where to Begin? (7 Questions)
The GFS Compilation Process (6 Questions)
GFS Dissemination (4 Questions)
Summary

Module 8: Using GFS for Policy Purposes

Uses of GFS (8 Questions)
The GFS Framework and Fiscal Policy (5 Questions)
GFS and Other Macroeconomic Statistics (4 Questions)
GFS in Macroeconomic Policymaking and Analysis (5 Questions)
Summary

Post-Course Test and Final Course Survey

Post-Course Test (25 Questions)
Final Course Survey

Admission details

Step 1: The Government Finance Statistics certification course page can be reached by its website

Step 2: Review the course content, instructor bio, curriculum, programme duration, sample certificate, fees details, enrolment session, and more. Pick an available session (self-paced) and click on ‘Enroll Now’. It is a red-coloured option on the top.

Step 3: You can either sign up on edX or sign in for enrolment. Signing in requires the existing login credentials. Signing up requires using any personal/professional email ID or social profile credentials.

Step 4: After logging in, the course registration is successfully done.

Filling the form

To enrol in the Government Finance Statistics certification course, you may set up a new edX profile. In the process, edX requests your full name, residence country name, and email address. Have a unique user ID and password to sign in to your future edX learning sessions. Moreover, your Google/Facebook account or Apple/Microsoft profile credentials or can also be used for signing in.

How it helps

The Government Finance Statistics course benefits include a verified edX accreditation that highlights your economics and finance domain expertise. Besides, you will be well-versed in government finance statistics (GFS). You will also get to learn from industry pundits at the IMF.

The edX Government Finance Statistics certificate also certifies your skills and adds credibility to your job profile on LinkedIn, CV, resume, job application, social media, and more.

Instructors

Mr Alberto F. Jiménez de Lucio
Economist and Business administrator
International Moneta...

Other Masters, Ph.D

Mr Hendrik Tillmann-Zorn
Public Finance Expert
International Moneta...

Ph.D

Mr Ethan Weisman
International Economist
International Moneta...

Mr David Bailey
Senior Economist
International Moneta...

Other Masters

FAQs

Does the IMF offer the Government Finance Statistics programme?

Yes. This course is created and delivered by the IMF Statistics Department.

Who is the Government Finance Statistics certificate programme instructor?

Alberto F. Jiménez de Lucio, Economist and Business administrator at the IMF; Hendrik Tillmann-Zorn, Public Finance expert at the IMF; Ethan Weisman, International Economist at the IMF, and David Bailey, Senior Economist at the IMF are your instructors.