Guatemala: Less on Infrastructure, More on Education

The Guatemalan government's 2011 budget will reduce the share allocated to Communications, Infrastructure and Housing by $180 million (-29%).

Friday, September 3, 2010

Edgar Balsells, Minister for Public Finances, commented that a budget increase for priority reconstruction projects has not been ruled out.

On the other hand, the sector receiving the largest increase is Education, which will have an additional $126 million available (+12.5%). These funds will go toward hiring more teachers and the "My Family Progresses" program.

The whole budget will increase to $6.6 billion with income forecast to be $4.7 billion, meaning that the rest will need to be financed by debt. Hence, the cost of servicing the national debt is expected to rise by 23% to $1.04 billion.

More on this topic

Panama: Government Spending 10% More on Wages

September 2011

Between January and July 2011, the state’s payroll totaled $1,098 million.

Government spending on salaries has shown a significant increase compared to the previous year, according to a report by the Controler from July, which reveals that the of the total expenses, 40% relates to the Ministry of Education.

Costa Rica's 2011 Budget

December 2010

More government spending -> more debt -> more expensive credit and more taxes. The State continues to fatten at the expense of the productive sector.

Juan Carlos Hidalgo, in his blog at Elfinanciero.com, begins his article calling the 2011 budget approved by the Legislative Assembly as “illegal”. He explains that current expenditures are included as investments, which is specifically prohibited by the National Budget Law.

Fiscal Deficit Up 70% in Costa Rica

September 2010

In the first eight months of 2010 the deficit totaled $997 million, 70% more than the same period of 2009, as a result of stagnant revenue and increased spending.

State revenues are still below 2008 levels, and spending has increased considerably, mainly in salaries, social programs and pensions.

Less Spending, Tax Evasion Control and Tax Reform

January 2011

Costa Rica's government announced the measures it intends to implement in order to deal with growing government spending and improve public finances.

The press release from the Ministry of Finance highlights the three pillars of the measures and the actions to undertake in each of them:


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