## Expenditure Ceilings—A Survey

_IMF Working Papers, December 1, 2008_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Expenditure Ceilings—A Survey](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/expenditure-ceilings-a-survey-22506)

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- [Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/expenditure-ceilings-a-survey-22506/index.md)
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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

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### 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).*

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## Content in this bundle

- **Expenditure Ceilings -- A Survey; by Gösta Ljungman; IMF Working Paper 08/282; December 1, 2008.**
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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/expenditure-ceilings-a-survey-22506_