Rationalizing for Resilience: Rethinking Public Spending in Mali

The book examines Mali’s budget for 2024, a pivotal period characterized by security challenges and the context of a post-transition presidential election. Faced with the threat of sanctions and the need for a new budget, the study adopts a mixed methodology, combining quantitative analysis of budget data with qualitative surveys of key figures, including 22 economic experts and senior civil servants. The results highlight efforts to rationalize public spending, while underlining the crucial importance of mobilizing diaspora resources to support the national economy. This synthesis reveals the complexity of Mali’s budgetary choices and their implications for the country’s stability and growth. It offers a unique perspective on how Mali can navigate through its current economic and political challenges, while laying the foundations for a prosperous and resilient future. This research not only informs political and economic decision-makers, but also contributes to the academic debate on fiscal management and governance in the context of transition.