The financial deficit up to October 2017 reached 4.6% of GDP, above the 3.9% registered at October 2016.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
The fiscal results up to October show the urgent need to have an integral tax reform (via income and expenses), that allows for sustainability in state finances, as well as guaranteeing its operation.Therefore, in order to provide a structural solution to the fiscal problem and reverse the trend of these results, the Government recently presented a new Project for Strengthening Public Finances, which seeks to bring political positions closer to reaching a consensus that will allow for an agreement to be made to clean up the Central Government's economic situation.
Between May 2016 and May this year the primary deficit went from 0.9% of GDP to 1%, while the financial deficit increased from 1.9% to 2.1% in the same period.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
The primary deficit and the fiscal deficit, which had been similar between 2016 and 2017, show a slight deterioration in May of this year which should draw the attention of all social sectors. The primary deficit went from 0.9% of GDP to 1% from May 2016 to May 2017; While the fiscal deficit went from 1.9% to 2.1% in the same period.
The lack of long-term solutions for reducing the fiscal deficit and improving the structure of public spending threaten the investment grade rating given by Moody's in 2010.
Economist and former president of the Central Bank, Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, warned that "... 'On the issue of the deficit we are kicking the ball forward believing we have an infinite amount of time. We are spending very unwisely.'"
While the "owners" of the "business" of the State of Costa Rica -public employees - are raising their salaries by at least 4%, their "workers" - the private sector - , were given an increase of 2.35%.
EDITORIAL
As if they lived on Mars, two senior level officials in the government of Costa Rica, the Deputy Ministers of Finance and Labor stated that there will not be any problem with adjusting the salaries of state officials at a percentage that will offset previous inflation - 4.14% - arguing that the increased expense "falls within the available budget."
In January 2014, current account expenditure increased by almost 8% compared to January 2013, with the category of Remuneration up 11%.
The monthly figures from the Central Government Revenues, Expenditures and Financing report published by the Ministry of Finance of Costa Rica, shows that the increase in total revenues in January 2014 was almost 11%, which meant a reduction in the fiscal deficit financial compared to GDP of 0.7%.
From January to November 2013, the fiscal deficit reached $2.270 billion, 4.6% of the national production, 25% more than that accumulated up to November 2012.
Market Pulse Blog Aldesa:
Costa Rica: How much does the government borrow per day?
Every day operations made by the Government, and therefore by all Costa Ricans, add up to an additional ₡1.796 million of new debt.
With the exception of Nicaragua, fiscal deficits are growing in the rest of the isthmus, along with public debt.
From the editorial of Central America's Fiscal Lens No. 6:
Central America faces an economic slowdown during 2013: on the isthmus, all countries project growth rates which are lower than last year. The degree of openness of these small open economies makes them susceptible to changes in the international context.
The Central American Institute for Fiscal Studies has highlighted the unsustainability of the fiscal deficit in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
Pensalibre.com reports that "... according to the results of a report by the Central Institute for Fiscal Studies (Icefi) submitted yesterday ... Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica find themselves with in unsustainable scenarios regarding public debt in the next few years. "
The country ranks third in Latin America in terms of the difference between income and expenditure in relation to GDP.
In 2012, government revenues totaled 14.4% of GDP while expenditures were 18.8%.
Data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), reveals that compared with 2007 figures the country shows a significant deterioration .
While up to May Finance revenue grew by 10% interannually, Central Government expenditure increased by 13.1%.
"Finance revenue grew by 10% interannually up to May, driven especially by the collection of income tax, tributes which recorded a growth of 11.7% in May," noted an article in Elfinancierocr.com.
"This increase in revenue pales in comparison to the rise of 13.1% in central government spending."
In a worst case scenario, debt could climb to 50% of GDP within 2 years.
According to economist Thelmo Vargas, a partner at the consulting firm Ecoanálisis, the forecast is of a base scenario in which interest rates are 5%, the economy grows at a rate of 4% and a primary deficit of 3% is registered for production.
"However, in a scenario with more pessimistic assumptions, Government obligations could grow from 38.7% of GDP expected for 2013 to 50.3% of production in 2015," noted an article in Elfinancierocr.com.
Costa Rica could have a greater fiscal deficit than the 4.8% estimated by the Central Bank for this year, reaching 5.1% of GDP.
According to the Fiscal Studies Program by the School of Economics at the National University of Costa Rica, this projection was based on total tax revenues increasing by 8.7%, taking into account a lower tax income and Customs taxes (due to a fall in imports) and also an increase in total expenditure of 11.5%.
During the first month of 2013 government spending was 16% higher than in January 2012, while income rose by 8.4%.
Crhoy.com reports that "In general, the central government deficit during the first month of the year stood at 0.84% as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP). Meanwhile, interest expenses increased in the order of 36%, whereas a year earlier it increased in the order of 10.1%. "
The annual imbalance between government expenditures and revenues grew by 0.3%. Expenses grew by 10.6% in 2012, 1.7% more than the increase in 2011.
A statement from the Ministry of Finance reads:
The financial deficit of the Central Government at the end of 2012 was 4.4% of GDP, equivalent to ¢1,003,098 million. This deficit is lower than that projected earlier this year (4.8%).
The primary deficit, which only takes into account regular revenues and expenses, excluding interest payments on existing debt, grew by 25.5% between January and November, reaching $970 million.
From the blog Pulso Bursátil by Aldesa:
Data on government finances to the end of November reveals nothing positive and, in contrast, shows an alarming growth rate for the year 2012.