2008年-世界发展银行全球_Slovakia_Public_Expenditure_Review_Mission_95页_1mb

Summary of Slovak Public Expenditure Review Mission (World Bank, January 21-30, 2008)

Core Content

The World Bank's Public Expenditure Review Mission for Slovakia, conducted in early 2008, assessed the country's fiscal situation and public expenditure management in the context of economic growth and long-term challenges. The report highlighted the need for improved budgetary practices, greater efficiency in public spending, and better integration of EU funds into strategic planning.

Main Points

• Fiscal Projections and Management
  Slovakia's budget projections for 2008–2010 show a continued decline in the deficit to 0.8% of GDP, with spending and revenue shares also projected to fall. The debt-to-GDP ratio remains below 30%. However, future fiscal challenges include increased spending on infrastructure, social services, and population aging. Budgetary prudence and clear spending priorities are essential.

• Public Expenditure Trends
  Public expenditure in Slovakia is significantly lower than the EU15 and NMS8 averages, mainly due to lower employee compensation and less rigid social benefits. The country spends less on health and education compared to EU15, but more on basic state functions. The share of expenditure on "efficiency-oriented" programs is also relatively low.

• Health Sector
  Despite relatively high real health resources, Slovakia's health outcomes are poor. The health sector has inefficiencies in converting resources into health outcomes, especially in areas like life expectancy and infant mortality. Slovakia ranks among the worst in the efficiency model that uses only public health spending.

• Education Sector
  While some education outcomes are favorable (e.g., high secondary school completion rates), overall education achievement is below the OECD average and strongly influenced by social background. Tertiary education attainment is low, and labor-market outcomes for secondary vocational graduates are poor. Education expenditure per student is low compared to the OECD average, but the pupil-teacher ratio is higher than in other NMS and OECD countries.

• Transport Sector
  Slovakia's transport infrastructure is underdeveloped and inefficient, with poor quality in roads and air transport. It ranks low in transport performance compared to EU countries and has a high number of road fatalities. The efficiency of transport spending is lower than in more developed EU countries, and there is significant room for improvement without increasing expenditure.

• EU Funds Utilization
  EU funds have a negative impact on the budget deficit, particularly if used to finance new expenditure. The government should focus on using EU funds to support high-priority new projects and ensure that increased spending is matched with quality improvements in infrastructure.

• Budgetary Reforms
  The introduction of a Medium-Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF) is a positive step, but its implementation has been weak. There is a need for binding expenditure ceilings and a stronger link between the MTBF and the annual budget process. The government should move from input-oriented to output- and outcome-oriented budgeting to improve efficiency and ensure that public funds are used effectively.

Key Information

• Public Expenditure as % of GDP (2006):

  • Slovakia: 37%
  • EU15: 47%
  • NMS8: 41%

• Employee Compensation as % of GDP (2005):

  • Education: 65%
  • Health: 4%
  • NMS8: 63%
  • EU15: 26%

• EU Funds Impact on Deficit (2008–2010):

  • If used for new expenditure: up to 5% of GDP
  • If used for existing expenditure: could be halved

• Efficiency of Public Spending in Education:

  • PISA scores could be improved by about 4% without increasing spending or reducing pupil-teacher ratio.

Policy Recommendations

1. Intensify Public Expenditure Management Reforms

   • Implement a binding multi-annual budget "envelope" system to enhance fiscal planning and control.
   • Strengthen the strategic prioritization of spending through improved institutional arrangements.

2. Shift to Output- and Outcome-Oriented Management

   • Establish a clear link between the achievement of targets and allocation of funds.
   • Ensure that program structures are aligned with broader strategic goals.

3. Improve Efficiency in the Transport Sector

   • Address the inefficiencies in infrastructure investment and prioritize quality improvements.
   • Ensure that increased spending on transport leads to better infrastructure performance.

4. Enhance the Use of EU Funds

   • Use EU funds for high-priority new expenditure rather than general spending.
   • Ensure that the use of EU funds is efficient and aligns with long-term fiscal goals.

5. Focus on Health Sector Reforms

   • Modernize the health system to improve the conversion of resources into health outcomes.
   • Target inefficiencies in the health system to enhance overall performance.

6. Improve Education Outcomes

   • Address the inefficiencies in education spending to improve PISA scores and labor market outcomes.
   • Increase the focus on tertiary education and support vocational graduates with better employment opportunities.