Formula allocation: The regional allocation of budgetary funds for measures of active labour market policy in Germany

A common problem of regional policy is the distribution of funds to regional units. To follow the specific purpose of this budgeting process in a rational way this is often done in a formula allocation on the basis of official statistics. In Germany, measures of active labour market policy – e.g. training measures, integration subsidies and job creation schemes – are paid from a common budget. For the allocation of these budgetary funds to the regions of the Federal Republic of Germany, a formula was developed which was to be based essentially on a labour market indicator. Here the procedure used in constructing the distribution process is explained and the distribution result for the year 2004 is set out.