The price of oil hit its highest level in nearly three years this week and, combined with rising oil output, will help support an improvement in budget and current account positions in the Gulf. This could open the door for some governments to loosen fiscal policy. Bahrain looks set to be an exception and tighten policy by doubling the rate of VAT. Elsewhere, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied unveiled his prime minister nearly two months after his power grab. Even if a new government is formed soon, there is growing concern that addressing Tunisia’s poor public finances is not on the agenda.
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