Special feature: Structure of general government expenditures by functions of social protection and health (COFOG)

• Published in: Government at a Glance 2017 pp. 86 - 87
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Paris OECD Publishing 13.07.2017
• Series: Government at a Glance
• ISBN: 9789264268722; 9264268723
• ISSN: 2221-4380; 2221-4399
• DOI: 10.1787/gov_glance-2017-23-en

One of the key objectives of governments is to protect the vulnerable and share the risks that could arise in communities from ill health, job loss and ageing. This is reflected in governments spending on social protection (i.e. pensions, unemployment insurance, etc.) and health care, which often constitute the largest public expenditure programmes. The demand and supply of social protection and health care services are subject to demographic dynamics, economic fluctuations as well as technological changes, and the complexity arising from their interaction can have a major impact on the long-term sustainability of public finances.