World Development Report 1984

expenditure and current revenue shown in these iture on the general administration and regulation
tables may not be strictly comparable across all of relevant government departments, hospitals
economies. The shares of total expenditure and and clinics, health and sanitation, and national
revenue by category are calculated from national health and medical insurance schemes.
currencies. Housing and community amenities, and social secu-
The inadequate statistical coverage of state, pro- rity and welfare cover (1) public expenditure on
vincial, and local governments has dictated the use housing, such as income-related schemes; on proof
central government data only. This may seri- vision and support of housing and slum clearance
ously understate or distort the statistical portrayal activities; on community development; and on
of the allocation of resources for various purposes, sanitary services; and (2) public expenditure for
especially in large countries where lower levels of compensation to the sick and temporarily disabled
government have considerable autonomy and are for loss of income; for payments to the elderly, the
responsible for many social services. permanently disabled, and the unemployed; and
It must be emphasized that the data presented, for family, maternity, and child allowances. The
especially those for education and health, are not second category also includes the cost of welfare
comparable for a number of reasons. In many services such as care of the aged, the disabled, and
economies private health and education services children, as well as the cost of general administraare
substantial; in others public services represent tion, regulation, and research associated with
the major component of total expenditure but may social security and welfare services.
be financed by lower levels of government. Great Economic services comprise public expenditure
caution should therefore be exercised in using the associated with the regulation, support, and more
data for cross-economy comparisons. efficient operation of business, economic develop-
Central government expenditure comprises the ment, redress of regional imbalances, and creation
expenditure by all government offices, depart- of employment opportunities. Research, trade proments,
establishments, and other bodies that are motion, geological surveys, and inspection and
agencies or instruments of the central authority of regulation of particular industry groups are among
a country. It includes both current and capital the activities included. The five major categories of
(development) expenditure. economic services are fuel and energy, agriculture,
Defense comprises all expenditure, whether by industry, transportation and communication, and
defense or other departments, for the maintenance other economic affairs and services.
of military forces, including the purchase of mili- Other covers expenditure for the general admintary
supplies and equipment, construction, istration of government not included elsewhere;
recruiting, and training. Also falling under this cat- for a few economies it also includes amounts that
egory is expenditure for strengthening the public could not be allocated to other components.
services to meet wartime emergencies, for training Overall surplus/deficit is defined as current and
civil defense personnel, and for foreign military capital revenue and grants received less total
aid and contributions to military organizations and expenditure less lending minus repayments.
alliances. The summary measures for the components of
Education comprises public expenditure for the central government expenditure are weighted by
provision, management, inspection, and support central government expenditure in current dollars;
of preprimary, primary, and secondary schools; of those for total expenditure as a percentage of GNP
universities and colleges; and of vocational, tech- and for overall surplus/deficit as a percentage of.
nical, and other training institutions by central GNP are weighted by GNP in current dollars.
governments. Also included is expenditure on the
general administration and regulation of the edu- Table 27. Central government current revenue
cation system; on research into its objectives,
organization, administration, and methods; and Information on data sources and comparability is
on such subsidiary services as transport, school given in the note for Table 26. Current revenue by
meals, and medical and dental services in schools. source is expressed as a percentage of total cur-
Health covers public expenditure on hospitals, rent revenue, which is the sum of tax revenue and
medical and dental centers, and clinics with a current nontax revenue, and is calculated from
major medical component; on national health and national currencies.
medical insurance schemes; and on family plan- Tax revenue is defined as all government revenue
ning and preventive care. Also included is expend- from compulsory, unrequited, nonrepayable
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