| Code | GC.AST.TOTL.GD.ZS |
| Indicator Name | Net acquisition of financial assets (% of GDP) |
| Short definition | Net acquisition of government financial assets includes domestic and foreign financial claims, SDRs, and gold bullion held by monetary authorities as a reserve asset. The net acquisition of financial assets should be offset by the net incurrence of liabilities. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. |
| Long definition | Net acquisition of government financial assets includes domestic and foreign financial claims, SDRs, and gold bullion held by monetary authorities as a reserve asset. The net acquisition of financial assets should be offset by the net incurrence of liabilities. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period. |
| Source | Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF) |
| Topic | Public Sector: Government finance: Deficit & financing |
| Dataset | WDI |
| Unit of measure | % |
| Periodicity | Annual |
| Reference period | 1970-2024 |
| Aggregation method | Weighted average |
| Statistical concept and methodology | Methodology: Government Finance statistics are compiled in accordance with international standards: Government Finance Statistics Manual, 2014 or 2001 editions. Specific information on how countries compile their Government Finance statistics can be found on the IMF website: https://dsbb.imf.org/
Statistical concept(s): Government Financial Statistics are compiled within a conceptual and reporting framework suitable for analyzing and evaluating fiscal policy, especially the performance of the general government sector and the broader public sector of any economy. |
| Development relevance | This indicator is related to Government finance statistics. Government finance statistics provide a detailed snapshot of a government's fiscal operations and health. They encompass data on revenue, expenditures, deficits, and debt levels, which are essential for crafting fiscal policy, budget planning, and economic forecasting. These statistics help policymakers manage public finances effectively, make informed decisions on taxation and spending, and set priorities for resource allocation. For investors, analysts, and the international community, government finance statistics serve as key indicators of a country's economic stability and creditworthiness. They also play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability, as they allow citizens and oversight bodies to track how public funds are managed and spent, fostering democratic engagement and governance. More specifically, this indicator is related to the transactions of the general government in financial assets. Data on transactions of the general government in financial assets provide information on how the government manages its investments and cash flow. These data help in assessing the government's fiscal strength, its ability to manage public debt, and the overall health of the economy. They are also used by policymakers to make informed decisions about monetary policy, budgeting, and economic planning. Additionally, these statistics are crucial for maintaining transparency and accountability in government operations, as they allow the public and investors to see how public funds are being utilized and managed. This can influence investor confidence and a country's credit rating, which in turn affects borrowing costs and investment levels. Overall, these data are essential for a comprehensive understanding of the government's financial position and for ensuring responsible financial governance. |
| Limitations and exceptions | For most countries central government finance data have been consolidated into one account, but for others only budgetary central government accounts are available. Countries reporting budgetary data are noted in the country metadata. Because budgetary accounts may not include all central government units (such as social security funds), they usually provide an incomplete picture. In federal states the central government accounts provide an incomplete view of total public finance.
Data on government revenue and expense are collected by the IMF through questionnaires to member countries and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Despite IMF efforts to standardize data collection, statistics are often incomplete, untimely, and not comparable across countries. |
| License URL | https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/public-licenses#cc-by |
| License Type | CC BY-4.0 |
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