Incorrect 2016 and Correct 2017 National Budget Appropriations

Disagreeing whilst all being incorrect In tabular form below is a summary of statements made by Government, Opposition and bureaucratic officials about the 2017 National Budget and the veracity of those statements. Most troublesome and regrettable is that all these reported statements are incorrect in varying degrees. Exhibit A Legal versus accounting requirements Our Constitution…

Is there a breach of the 30% debt-to-GDP limit set by law?

Minister for Treasury Patrick Pruaitch in his 2017 National Budget speech said that there was an overarching theme of “Responsible Fiscal Consolidation” (page 4) and that the O’Neill-Dion Government was moving decisively to “move the Government Debt to GDP ratio onto a sustainable path” (page 5). It is reported that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is…