Expenditure Ceilings—A Survey

IMF Working Papers, December 1, 2008

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Expenditure Ceilings—A Survey

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Bibliographic details

• Authors: Gösta Ljungman
• Published: December 1, 2008
• Series: IMF Working Papers
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451871401.001

Overview and Purpose

• Paper examines factors to consider when designing an aggregate expenditure ceiling.
• Argues that expenditure ceilings are effective in promoting fiscal discipline and sustainability.
• Notes that a number of trade-offs must be made when setting up a fiscal framework that will survive in a politically charged environment.
• Illustrates discussion with a case study of medium-term aggregate expenditure ceilings in three countries: Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Key Findings

• Expenditure ceilings are effective in promoting fiscal discipline and sustainability.
• Designing a durable fiscal framework requires balancing multiple trade-offs in a politically charged environment.
• Medium-term aggregate expenditure ceilings are exemplified by practices in Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Subject Areas and Keywords

• Subject: Budget planning and preparation; Expenditure; External debt; Fiscal governance; Fiscal policy; Inflation; Interest payments; Prices; Public financial management (PFM)
• Keywords: budget expenditure; Budget planning and preparation; central government; expenditure category; expenditure ceiling; expenditure ceiling in the Netherlands; Expenditure ceilings; expenditure ceilings regime; expenditure development; expenditure forecast; expenditure level; expenditure-reducing measure; Fiscal governance; fiscal policy; fiscal rules; government expenditure; government finances; Inflation; Interest payments; investment expenditure; medium-term expenditure ceiling; structural surplus; time horizon; WP

Access and Formats

• Format listed: Chicago citation example provided.
• Options referenced: Download PDF; More Formats on IMF eLibrary; Order a Print Copy; Create Citation; Share.

IMF Working Papers — Expenditure Ceilings—A Survey by Gösta Ljungman (Working Paper No. 2008/282).

Content in this bundle

• Expenditure Ceilings -- A Survey; by Gösta Ljungman; IMF Working Paper 08/282; December 1, 2008.
  • Expenditure Ceilings -- A Survey; by Gösta Ljungman; IMF Working Paper 08/282; December 1, 2008. (Markdown version)
  • Expenditure Ceilings -- A Survey; by Gösta Ljungman; IMF Working Paper 08/282; December 1, 2008. (PDF)