World Bank Experts: State Expenditure in Belarus Worth 60% of GDP

Belarus has one of the highest levels of state expenditure in the CIS. This was announced to journalists in Minsk on Saturday, January 25 by John Litvack, the head of a World Bank mission to Belarus which is due to complete its evaluation of the country's state expenditure today.

According to the mission's preliminary findings, state expenditure in Belarus is 60% of GDP. Litvack said that 'the share of budgetary and non-budgetary expenditure in Belarus is very high in comparison with other countries with transitional economies, including the Russian Federation.'

A high level of state expenditure requires high taxation, a burden which the international experts believe is born by Belarussian taxpayers. 'The Belarussian government recognizes the need for a general reduction in state expenditure,' said Litvack.

In turn, Anatoly Sverzh, the First Deputy Finance Minister of Belarus, declared that 'we understand perfectly well that we have a high tax burden and are endeavoring to reduce it.' Sverzh explained the country's high level of state expenditure as a consequence of the socially-oriented policy being carried out by the Belarussian leadership. He said that the Belarussian government was obliged to work within these restrictions.

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