Publication: Public Expenditure Policies in Southeast Europe
Date
2007-11
ISSN
Published
2007-11
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The countries of Southeastern Europe
(SEE) and the province of Kosovo (thereafter, Kosovo) have
undergone a significant, though difficult, transition over
the past decade. Series of conflicts in the region have
complicated the transition process, which in the initial
phase focused on macroeconomic stabilization and
reconstruction. Helped by macroeconomic stability and
efforts in advancing structural reforms, real Gross Domestic
Product, or GDP growth in region has picked up this century,
averaging 5.8 percent during 2000-2006, although it has
still lagged the pace in both the more advanced reformers
and the average for emerging Asia. In addition to boosting
living standards, the SEE countries' shared aspiration
to advance European Union (EU) integration has been
increasingly shaping the reform agenda. This report reviews
the level, composition and outcomes of government spending
and distills some of the lessons that emerge from efforts by
the SEE countries in reforming expenditure policies. The
report identifies key remaining challenges and proposes a
broad menu of options in further reforms of sectors that
account for the largest shares of public spending across the
countries, and where reforms are likely to have significant
budgetary implications. This has motivated the choice of
sectors discussed in the report: social protection
(including pensions), health, education, public
administration and infrastructure.
Citation
“World Bank. 2007. Public Expenditure Policies in Southeast Europe. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/d158c956-2700-50cd-9011-6a4b3124f33f License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”