Budget Assessment: Despite promises, first-timer Nene has missed more than a trick or two

THE best from the budget is that tax, spending and deficits increased at slower rates than expected.

The worst is that it increases the likelihood of prolonged stagnation, along with the world’s highest sustained unemployment rate, extreme welfare dependency and a business-unfriendly environment.

This is the conclusion to be reached based on world experience. When governments grow, economies stagnate. The budget increases government revenue from 28.1% to 28.4%, and spending from 32% to 32.2% of GDP. Based on the optimistic, some would say unrealistic, assumption that deficits will fall, money diverted to debt servicing will rise annually: R115bn (2015), R126bn (2016), R141bn (2017) and R153bn (2018).

Read the full article by clicking the BDlive logo below