Macroeconomic Statistics Basics

Tobias (Murto) Wickens is a senior economist in the Government Finance Division of the IMF's Statistics Department, leveraging over three decades of experience in public finance and statistics. His career encompasses 22 years at the IMF and a decade at the South African Ministry of Finance, where he managed budget numbers, estimates, and fiscal analysis. As the primary drafter and editor of the Public Sector Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users and key contributor to the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014, Wickens has significantly influenced international financial statistics standards. His expertise extends to improving government finance statistics globally through developing compilation methodologies, conducting training programs, and collaborating with desk economists on fiscal files. While maintaining his role at the IMF, he serves as an Extraordinary Senior Lecturer, continuing to shape international standards for fiscal and public sector debt statistics through his comprehensive understanding of statistical methodology and practical implementation, making him a pivotal figure in international financial statistics and public sector accounting.