The Medium-Term Fiscal Framework in Sweden

Abstract

Since 1997, a medium-term fiscal framework has been applied to virtually all aspects of budget preparation in Sweden. The longer three-year horizon has enabled better fiscal discipline through the use of fiscal targets and advanced forecasting models. Particular attention is placed on ensuring the consistency and quality of forecasts. In addition, forecasting of revenues and expenditures is an exercise that involves all levels of the central government administration five or six times a year. Thus the preconditions for well-informed and rational decisions on government policies have been drastically enhanced in Sweden.