Voļskis: Budget planning should focus on priorities, not just spending totals
Economist Edgars Voļskis argues that discussions ahead of Latvia's 2027 state budget should go beyond revenue and spending figures to address which professions and state functions deserve priority funding. He raises the question of whether current policy allows people in socially essential jobs to live with financial security and dignity.
As Latvia prepares its 2027 state budget and medium-term fiscal framework, discussions should not be limited to how much the state spends and how much revenue can be raised through fiscal space, economist Edgars Voļskis argues in an opinion piece published on LSM.
Beyond the numbers
Voļskis contends that deciding which state functions and professions deserve greater priority and funding is just as important as setting overall spending levels. He calls on the current and future government, as well as parliament, to consider which professions should be treated as priorities for Latvia.
A question of dignity
The central issue the author raises is whether existing social and economic policy allows people performing socially significant work to live financially secure and dignified lives. In his view, budget planning should not be reduced to technical calculations of income and expenditure alone, but must also involve value-based choices about which sectors and professions society and the state choose to support more.
The piece calls for a broader debate during the preparation of the medium-term fiscal framework and the upcoming budget, urging decision-makers to weigh not only numerical indicators but also socioeconomic considerations related to income equalization and how labor is valued across different sectors of the economy.
