Public finance is the financial system that supports the activities of the government. This includes all aspects of raising funds for public services, managing public resources and allocating resources for the benefit of the public.
The central element of public finance is the government budget. The government budget is an annual financial plan that specifies the government’s revenues and expenses. It divides spending between government departments and across categories, such as current expenditures, grants, and capital projects.
The government budget is developed and managed by the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for collecting taxes and allocating funds to public services and activities. The budget must be balanced, meaning that the government cannot spend more money than it collects in taxes.
The government collects money through taxes, fees, borrowing, and asset sales. Tax income is the main source of funding for the government. Many taxes are collected by the central government and distributed to state governments. The central government collects value-added tax, income tax, and corporate tax, as well as other taxes.
The government also relies on fees for services and licenses, borrowing from domestic and international financial markets, and selling state-owned assets to raise funds. This money is then allocated to government departments and agencies to make payments for personnel, services and goods, and to fund investments. The budget includes revenue from taxation and borrowing, as well as expenditure on both current (day-to-day) and capital (long-term) activities.
The government must control its spending to maintain a balanced budget, which means that revenue must equal expenditures. If the government spends more money than it collects in taxes, it creates a budget deficit and must borrow money to make up the difference. The Ministry of Finance sets aside money in the budget so that when unexpected costs arise, the government can respond in an appropriate manner.
The government must ensure that it collects sufficient revenue to meet its obligations and allocations. To maintain fiscal responsibility, the Ministry of Finance controls and manages expenditure. It monitors spending against the budget, and can freeze or modify expenditure levels.
The government must also provide information to taxpayers and to citizens. It offers public services such as education, health care, and social security, which require an understanding of the budgetary process. Taxpayers must know the amount of taxes they must pay, and citizens must know the amount of money allocated for public services and investments.
To ensure transparency and accountability, all decisions regarding public finance must be approved by the legislature, which reviews and approves the budget for each financial year. The legislature also has the power to request more details about spending and allocate additional funds for certain programs, if needed.
Public finance is a complex and important area of government activity. It involves a variety of activities, from budgeting and taxation to allocation of resources. It is essential for economic stability and for the effective management of government resources.