Federal budget and the fiscal policy of Russia: Assessment of opportunities to achieve national development goals

Abstract

Subject. The article investigates resource opportunities and identifies priorities of the federal budget as a key instrument for a conceptually new State fiscal policy implementation, to achieve goals of national development of the Russian economy. Objectives. The aim is to assess the compliance of key parameters of the federal budget and the fiscal policy measures, implemented through it, with the national development goals of Russia. Methods. The methodology rests on general logical methods and research techniques, used to determine conceptual advantages and disadvantages of draft federal budget for 2022 and the planning period of 2023 and 2024. Results. We revealed positive changes in the shift in priorities of Russia's budgetary policy towards financial and tax incentives for areas that are strategically important for the Russian economy. However, despite the positive growth rates of the Russian economy in 2021, the State returns to moderate fiscal policy at the federal level. The change in the paradigm of budgetary policy that took place during the global coronavirus pandemic should be elaborated in subsequent budget cycles by maintaining and expanding stimulus measures in the federal budget in relation to breakthrough areas of the Russian economy development. Conclusions. The resource potential of the federal budget for the continuation of stimulating budgetary policy throughout the entire budget cycle of 2022–2024 is quite sufficient and can be realized through reducing its surplus by easing the constraints on budget expenditures the ‘budget rule’ dictates.