Financing Public Security: Tax and Non-tax Instruments to Finance Citizen Security and Crime Prevention

Abstract

Drawing on the innovative sources of financing for public security that have developed in Latin American and the Caribbean in recent years, this paper reviews the main revenue instruments that can be used to finance various aspects of citizen security. The paper focuses on the structure of financing for the security budget and does not attempt to provide an assessment of expenditure needs and efficiency. If an in-depth country analysis concludes that more resources are needed, the paper provides a guideline on how to think about the merits of different new financing instruments and of earmarking these funds.