Tuesday 16 June 2009

Things must have been terrible ten years ago!

The Tories are now being pilloried for wanting to reduce government spending in some departments by ten per cent, shock, horror, yawn...

To put this in perspective, back in 1999-00, spending was 36% of GDP and in the current year it will be 48%. So even if it were cut by a quarter, would this really be so terrible?

Chart adapted from current Public Sector Finances Databank.

4 comments:

Dick Puddlecote said...

Well said. Funnily enough, rolling back public expenditure to 2001 levels is part of the Libertarian Party manifesto.

Mark Wadsworth said...

DP, I know, I covered that when the LPUK proposal first came out.

Stan said...

"would this really be so terrible?"

It would be if you're one of the millions riding the public sector gravy train.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Stan, I'm not a monster - I'd give 'em one month's pay for every year's service in lieu of notice & accrued pension rights.