IMF Working Papers

Strengthening Public Expenditure Efficiency: Investment and Social Spending in Bulgaria

By Jean-Jacques Hallaert, Keyra Primus

May 27, 2022

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Jean-Jacques Hallaert, and Keyra Primus. Strengthening Public Expenditure Efficiency: Investment and Social Spending in Bulgaria, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2022) accessed October 13, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

The scope for increasing public spending to meet Bulgaria’s development needs is limited by low revenue. Increasing the efficiency of spending is, therefore, crucial. This paper discusses how this can be achieved in four areas (public investment, social protection, health, and education). The methodology is based on a triple benchmarking. First, the level of public expenditure in each category is compared to other European countries. Second, the impact of spending is assessed against other European countries. Third, the input mix is analyzed to understand what components are responsible for the level of spending and for the quality of outcomes. Based on these results, the paper provides policy options for expenditure reform.

Subject: Education, Expenditure, Health, Public investment spending, Social protection spending

Keywords: Bulgaria, Development needs, Education, Efficiency, Efficiency frontier, EU fund absorption, Europe, Expenditure development, Global, Health, Public Expenditure, Public expenditure efficiency, Public Expenditure Reform, Public investment, Public investment spending, Social Protection, Social protection spending, Social Spending

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    66

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2022/100

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2022100

  • ISBN:

    9798400210273

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941