Belarus : Strengthening Public Resource Management
This report, the first Public Expenditure Review of Belarus, will remain focused on broad systemic questions. A number of the problems emphasized in the subsequent chapters fall into four broad categories. These categories are all closely interrela...
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| Format: | Public Expenditure Review |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC
2013
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/06/2462985/belarus-strengthening-public-resource-management http://hdl.handle.net/10986/14618 |
| Summary: | This report, the first Public
Expenditure Review of Belarus, will remain focused on broad
systemic questions. A number of the problems emphasized in
the subsequent chapters fall into four broad categories.
These categories are all closely interrelated: The
complicated array of extrabudgetary and quasi-fiscal sources
of state finance imposes substantial losses on the economy.
Budgetary preparation and approval lacks focus, realism, and
an appropriate balance of political influence. The
implementation of the budget suffers from excessively weak
legality, and allows for too much discretion in the
allocation and re-allocation of state expenditures. The
connection between state objectives and public expenditures
is often unclear or weak. There are many recommendations for
changes that could help to improve fiscal discipline,
strengthen allocative effectiveness and improve the
technical efficiency, we present the most critical actions
that are needed: Improve realism in budgetary planning and
the management of state obligations. Develop institutions to
support commitment to budgetary implementation. Expand the
coverage of the budget to account for most activities with
fiscal impact. Develop a framework for identifying,
quantifying and addressing fiscal risks. Develop a
sustainable wage and compensation policy. Streamline
subsidies to the productive sectors. Focus on development of
sector strategies, one or two sectors at a time: identify
objectives, determine performance measures and the links
between inputs and positive outcomes. Improve the short and
medium term revenue and expenditure forecasting capacity.
Put in place systematic rules for budget revision. Introduce
guidelines for the allocation of resources in the event of
unexpected inflation, cash shortages, or surpluses. Develop
a concept of accountability beyond the Ministry of Finance
and budget. |
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