SANTO DOMINGO.– The economic measures announced by the Government to address the impact of the international crisis have generated reactions among various sectors of the nation, where some recognize specific advances, but also warn about structural limitations in their scope and depth.
The fiscal package, aimed at strengthening public finances and sustaining subsidies in the face of rising international oil prices, has been described by specialists as a short-term response to an external scenario marked by uncertainty.
They acknowledge progress, but with nuances in the tax structure
The economist and dean of the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences of the UASD, Dr. Antonio Ciriaco Cruz, valued that the proposal incorporates fiscal figures that, in his view, do not distort economic activity and allow some improvement in the State's collection capacity.
He also highlighted the inclusion of compensatory measures aimed at middle-class sectors and some adjustments that could benefit certain productive groups.
However, he warned that the package does not represent a structural transformation of the tax system, but rather a partial intervention amid a complex international situation.
Reduction of advance payments: one of the most positive measures
During his participation in an interview on the program El Día, the academic pointed out as one of the most favorable points the reduction of tax advances for certain taxpayers such as micro-enterprises, considering that this measure corrects distortions that have historically generated criticism in the business sector.
In his opinion, this adjustment can alleviate burdens that particularly affect small and medium-sized businesses, with a potential impact on productive activity.
A reform limited to the context of energy subsidies
However, Ciriaco Cruz maintained that the scope of the proposal is conditioned by the immediate need to finance subsidies, particularly those related to fuels and electricity.
In that regard, he explained that the increase in international oil prices has forced the State to allocate significant weekly resources to avoid a direct impact on the cost of living.
"It is a partial reform that seeks to cover part of the fuel subsidy," he indicated, while warning that the design of the package responds more to fiscal urgency than to a comprehensive restructuring of the economic system.
“They are just patches”: criticism of the logic of recent reforms
The economist stated that the tax reforms implemented in recent years have been fragmented, describing them as "patches" rather than fundamental transformations.
He argued that the Dominican social structure, along with the weight of public opinion and interest groups, has limited the possibility of applying deeper or shock reforms.
“Measures are being developed that the population can assimilate, without generating high levels of conflict,” he noted.
Public spending and state advertising under scrutiny
In his analysis, the academic also raised the need to strengthen mechanisms for controlling public spending, particularly in areas such as state advertising.
He considered that the implementation of regulations establishing clear limits on this type of item should be evaluated, in accordance with the principles of fiscal responsibility.
In his view, this type of measure would help to strengthen the credibility of adjustment policies on the spending side.
Fuels and transparency in parity pricing
Another point discussed was the mechanism for setting fuel prices, especially the concept of import parity price.
The economist explained that this system can present distortions if the real costs of acquiring oil are not adequately made transparent, since international reference prices do not always reflect contractual purchase agreements.
This, he warned, could affect the final structure of consumer prices and the amount of subsidies assumed by the State.
International situation and pressure on energy subsidies
Ciriaco Cruz contextualized the measures within a volatile international scenario, marked by the increase in the price of oil and the pressure on public finances.
He indicated that the State has had to allocate billions of pesos weekly to sustain the fuel subsidy, which has strained the national budget.
However, he acknowledged that a potential drop in international prices could alleviate this burden in the coming months, generating greater fiscal flexibility.
Tax exemptions: a topic avoided in the reform
The academic also pointed out that the reform did not address the issue of tax exemptions, a point he considers sensitive due to the presence of multiple interest groups.
In his opinion, the decision not to address this aspect stems from the political and economic complexity involved in confronting sectors that currently benefit from these incentives.
A balanced response amid economic pressure
Finally, when assessing the set of measures, the economist maintained that these are “balanced” adjustments, designed to generate consensus and political viability in the short term.
However, he insisted that its scope remains limited in the face of the magnitude of the structural challenges of the Dominican economy.
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