The document discusses public expenditures by governments. It notes that public expenditures are reflected in national budgets and indicate a government's economic and social priorities. Developing countries tend to prioritize education spending to invest in human capital development. While public expenditures have increased due to factors like inflation, population growth, and infrastructure projects, they are necessary to support social services for large populations and address issues like peace and order. When evaluating public expenditures, both economic and social impacts should be considered, with priority given to programs that improve conditions for the poor masses and promote social justice.

1. Public Expenditures

2. PUBLIC
- Supported by
money from the
government and
from the
contributors rather
than commercial.
EXPENDITURES
- An amount of
money spent on
something

3. • The expenditures of the government
are reflected in the national budget
which shows the specific programs and
projects of the government in one year.

4. Such expenditures
indicate the
emphasis and
direction of the
national economy as
well as its needs and
problems.

5. In short, public expenditures
mirror the major goals of the
government

6. The National Government expenditures are allocated
among the various sectors such as
Economic
Services
Social
services
Defense
General Public
Administration
Debt
Service

7. Developing countries, which
believe that their peoples
constitute the real key to their
progress provide the biggest
budget for education.

8. To them, investment in human
resources is the best investment. They
give top priority to the training and
education of their people. A kind of
human resources development which is
relevant to the needs of their economy
and society.

9. In our case, it has been alleged
that we have a colonial
education which only benefits
the business interests of the
Americans.

10. Public Expenditures have been increasing tremendously as
shown in our yearly national budgets. There are causes
for such leap in our public expenditures such as inflation,
growth of population, increase in the price of oil, and
the massive infrastructure projects of the government.

11. We are a nation of 65 million people. This
alone requires huge expenditures on social
services like education, health, housing and
other social services. Our peace and order
problems also need big budget.

12. EVALUATING
PUBLIC
EXPENDITURES

14. For example, the cost of an irrigation project is P500
million. If it has generated an income of P2 billion for
the government in the form of irrigation fees, then it
is a very good project. But this is not only the
economic benefit but the farmers have also been able
to increase their harvests. Evidently, the multiplier
effects of farmers’ income from the irrigation have
been substantial and extensive.

15. However, economic profitability is not only the
basis of judging whether a project is good or not.
In the less developed countries, government
programs and projects should be evaluated more on
their social impact of the people.
If such projects or programs have touched the
miserable lives of the masses, then these are
excellent programs or projects.

16. Social justice should be the first
priority in estimating the benefits of
government expenditures.
Programs which are highly profitable but
benefit only very few are not appropriate
in a country where most people are poor.
A government should provide more funds to
programs and projects which are principally
designed to improve the social and economic
conditions of the poor masses.