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Swedish budget focuses on labour market
Sweden's government has outlined a raft of labour market initiatives in the budget presented on Tuesday, while its forecast for GDP growth has been slashed to 1.3 percent in 2012, warning that the reality could be worse.
Published: 20 Sep 2011 08:24 CET
Sweden's government has forecast that growth in Sweden's GDP will fall sharply, from 4.1 percent in 2011 to 1.3 percent in 2012, warning that the fall could be even worse in its budget statement presented on Tuesday.
In 2013 GDP is expected to grow by 3.5 percent, the government forecast in its detailed budget financial plan.
"The ministry of finance estimates that the Swedish economy will slacken considerably in 2012," it said in a statement as Finance Minister Anders Borg presented the proposed budget to parliament.
"In the budget bill for 2012, the government gives priority to measures to address the slowdown, achieve sustainably higher growth and employment, ensure that everyone shares in welfare and increase the stability of the financial system."
The Government believes that most of its reform ambitions can be carried out and expects to be able to push through a fifth step in-work income tax credit, reduced taxes for seniors, an raised threshold for state income tax and a continued improvement of the conditions for business.
Just as in prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's statement at the opening of parliament, the theme of "responsibility" remained the keyword in the financial plan.
"More restrictive scope for reform in the wake of worsening public finances and the increased need for safety margins constitute a time for accountability," the plan reads.
While the GDP forecast has been revised down substantially, the government warns that there is a risk of an even weaker development.
The government had in April forecast a surplus of 65 billion kronor for 2012, but the global economic slowdown was seen wiping out that surplus and Borg now predicted a balanced budget.
With "scope for reform" now set at 15 billion kronor ($2.2 billion) for 2012, the government expects savings to come in close to nothing, but advises that margins allow for jobs policy initiatives "if the development would be worse".
In its draft budget, the government has proposed a labour market package of 8.1 billion for 2012-2014.
Sweden’s Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) is set to receive an extra 1.2 billion kronor next year. Overall, the number of temporary employment and training places will increase by 15,350 next year and 8,550 in 2013, according to budget proposals.
The budget contains measures for 15 billion kronor for 2012 and 17.3 billion kronor in 2013, largely temporary demand stimulus.
Many of the proposals have been presented earlier, such as lowered restaurant tax, infrastructure projects and assistance to households with the lowest incomes in particular in the form of increased housing benefits.
Consumer prices are expected to increase by 3.0 percent this year, 1.2 percent in 2012 and 1.8 percent in 2013. Wages are expected to increase by 2.7 percent in 2011, 2.9 percent next year and 3.1 percent 2013.
Unemployment is expected to reach 7.5 percent this year, 7.8 percent in 2012 and 7.7 percent in 2013, according to the financial plan. Compared with the treasury department's assessment on August 26th, the forecasts are unchanged.
The surplus in public finances is expected to be wiped out next year. General government net lending is expected, as a percentage of GDP, amounting to 0.1 percent this year, 0.0 percent in 2012 and 0.7 percent 2013.
The costliest measure is a cut in the value-added tax (VAT) on restaurant services, from 25 to 12 percent, "to create jobs for young people and stimulate entrepreneurship."
The move is expected to lead to 3,500 new jobs, but cost the state 5.40 billion kronor in lost revenue in 2012 and 4.10 billion in 2013, the government said.
Unions said they were not convinced.
"We want stronger measures for the labour market and more incentives for companies to create new jobs," said Carin Wallenthin of blue-collar union IF Metall.
The budget bill also forecast an increase of some 100-million-kronor for the operations of Sweden's intelligence agency Säpo following the suicide bombing in Sweden in December and twin attacks in neighbouring Norway in July, to 1.04 billion kronor.
In 2013 GDP is expected to grow by 3.5 percent, the government forecast in its detailed budget financial plan.
"The ministry of finance estimates that the Swedish economy will slacken considerably in 2012," it said in a statement as Finance Minister Anders Borg presented the proposed budget to parliament.
"In the budget bill for 2012, the government gives priority to measures to address the slowdown, achieve sustainably higher growth and employment, ensure that everyone shares in welfare and increase the stability of the financial system."
The Government believes that most of its reform ambitions can be carried out and expects to be able to push through a fifth step in-work income tax credit, reduced taxes for seniors, an raised threshold for state income tax and a continued improvement of the conditions for business.
Just as in prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's statement at the opening of parliament, the theme of "responsibility" remained the keyword in the financial plan.
"More restrictive scope for reform in the wake of worsening public finances and the increased need for safety margins constitute a time for accountability," the plan reads.
While the GDP forecast has been revised down substantially, the government warns that there is a risk of an even weaker development.
The government had in April forecast a surplus of 65 billion kronor for 2012, but the global economic slowdown was seen wiping out that surplus and Borg now predicted a balanced budget.
With "scope for reform" now set at 15 billion kronor ($2.2 billion) for 2012, the government expects savings to come in close to nothing, but advises that margins allow for jobs policy initiatives "if the development would be worse".
In its draft budget, the government has proposed a labour market package of 8.1 billion for 2012-2014.
Sweden’s Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) is set to receive an extra 1.2 billion kronor next year. Overall, the number of temporary employment and training places will increase by 15,350 next year and 8,550 in 2013, according to budget proposals.
The budget contains measures for 15 billion kronor for 2012 and 17.3 billion kronor in 2013, largely temporary demand stimulus.
Many of the proposals have been presented earlier, such as lowered restaurant tax, infrastructure projects and assistance to households with the lowest incomes in particular in the form of increased housing benefits.
Consumer prices are expected to increase by 3.0 percent this year, 1.2 percent in 2012 and 1.8 percent in 2013. Wages are expected to increase by 2.7 percent in 2011, 2.9 percent next year and 3.1 percent 2013.
Unemployment is expected to reach 7.5 percent this year, 7.8 percent in 2012 and 7.7 percent in 2013, according to the financial plan. Compared with the treasury department's assessment on August 26th, the forecasts are unchanged.
The surplus in public finances is expected to be wiped out next year. General government net lending is expected, as a percentage of GDP, amounting to 0.1 percent this year, 0.0 percent in 2012 and 0.7 percent 2013.
The costliest measure is a cut in the value-added tax (VAT) on restaurant services, from 25 to 12 percent, "to create jobs for young people and stimulate entrepreneurship."
The move is expected to lead to 3,500 new jobs, but cost the state 5.40 billion kronor in lost revenue in 2012 and 4.10 billion in 2013, the government said.
Unions said they were not convinced.
"We want stronger measures for the labour market and more incentives for companies to create new jobs," said Carin Wallenthin of blue-collar union IF Metall.
The budget bill also forecast an increase of some 100-million-kronor for the operations of Sweden's intelligence agency Säpo following the suicide bombing in Sweden in December and twin attacks in neighbouring Norway in July, to 1.04 billion kronor.
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The government has made huge cuts in public spending especially in the health sector and has no money, so where has it gone?
People are being forced to buy cheaper food products in order to save money due to lower incomes.
The government's policies continue to fail and it continues to repeat its get out clause, "warning that the fall could be even worse".
Sweden is being run by a bunch of incompetent idiots and the people are starting to see through the bulls**t. These crooks are only helping the better off by means of tax breaks.
Don't blame the problems on the euro zone, get rid of them.