Government balance and government debt

The government balance (or EMU balance) is the overall difference between government revenues and spending. Revenues and expenses are booked in the year that the economic value is created, changed or lost, or when a right or obligation arises, is changed or annulled.
The government debt (or EMU debt) is the debt of the government at nominal value (as opposed to market value). The so-called trade credits and transitory items are not included in the government debt. Debts between the various levels of government in the Netherlands are also excluded.
The data in this news release are drawn up on the basis of European directives for national accounts (ESR2010) and supplementary European rules for the definition of government deficit and government debt.

Back to article