Graph of the week: Public spending in the EU before and after the crisis

Public spending in the EU before and after the crisis

Total general government expenditure in the EU reached 49.0% of GDP, averaging €12,617 per person in 2013.

Source: Eurostat, Public Spending Reviews: design, conduct, implementation

Public spending patterns differ greatly across the EU

The picture varies across the EU, reflecting national preferences and political decisions. In six Member States, public spending accounts for more than 54% of GDP, while in another six, the proportion is between 34% and 39%.

In the EU as a whole, the public expenditure-to-GDP ratio increased by 3.5 percentage points between 2007, the year preceding the crisis, and 2013. Four Member States, however, have managed to stabilize or even reduce their expenditure-to-GDP ratios over that period.

Lessons from the crisis

A major policy lesson stemming from the crisis is the need to enhance expenditure performance i.e. the concordance between funding decisions and policy priorities, and their value for money.

Spending reviews which seek to align expenditure allocation with national policy priorities can be a useful tool in designing smart fiscal consolidation strategies.

A recent Commission staff paper 'Public Spending Reviews: design, conduct, implementation' highlights the valuable role that well-designed government spending reviews can play.