This statistical file is concerned with Arab government budgets as it assumes that the sharp drop in oil prices coupled with ongoing regional conflicts have caused significant deficits in the budgets of most Arab countries, especially Arab oil-exporting countries, where governments had to implement a wide range of fiscal reforms aiming at rationalizing public spending and enhancing public revenues. On the other hand, lower oil prices have eased pressures on public finance in Arab oil-importing countries, especially in light of the rising cost of energy subsidies. Yet, many of these countries had also to proceed with structural reforms to reduce fuel subsidies and control the budget.
Tables 1 and 2 provide statements on government revenues and grants, including estimates of government revenues as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), while Tables 3–5 show hydrocarbon and tax revenues, including estimates of these revenues as a percentage of total public revenues.
Tables 6 and 7 provide statements on government expenditures, including estimates of government expenditures as a percentage of GDP, while Tables 8 and 9 deal with the structure of expenditures, showing estimates of current and capital expenditures along with figures on the functional classification of current expenditures.
Overall surplus/deficit figures for Arab government budgets along with projections of the general government fiscal balance are shown in Table 10.
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