Public Expenditure Review of Armenia (World Bank Country Study)

This, the first full-scale World Bank Public Expenditure Review for Armenia, reviews the main fiscal trends in Armenia for the period of 1997-2001 and develops recommendations with respect to further fiscal adjustment, expenditure prioritization, and budget consolidation. The analysis focuses on the following core issues: Sustainability of fiscal adjustment, fiscal transparency, expenditure priorities, and short-term expenditure management given the existing economy-wide institutional constraints. This study covers extra-budgetary funds, in-kind external grants, subsidies provided by the state-owned companies in the energy and utility sectors, and operation of the Social Insurance Fund, as well as regular budgetary spending. It suggests a medium-term action plan to address identified weaknesses. Sector chapters review health, education, and social protection and insurance. The report also analyzes budget support for core public infrastructure, and Armenia's public investment program.