IMF Representative Goesta Ljungman claims that there are no opportunities for increasing costs of the state budget.
He said when giving comments to ET.
“The recovery of fiscal discipline in 2016-2017 and the gradual reduction of the state debt were significant achievements within the context of the program of reforms, supported by IMF”, Ljungman said.
According to him, it is important to stick to the main rules in future, because a considerable state debt remains the significant factor of vulnerability.
“We are concerned about the growth of expendable pressure against the background of too optimistic, in our opinion, forecasts of budget revenues. Considering it, we do not see fiscal space for increasing budgetary expenses in 2018”, IMF representative added.
According to EP data, currently, the government considers the possibility of future potential budget revision for raising the minimum wage.
IMF’s position in this question was always unequivocal: raising the minimum salary is possible only if there are economic grounds. Today, in IMF’s opinion, the increase of expenditure is economically impossible.
