The preliminary audit figures for the 1998 Federal budget show that consolidation was continued in the past year. It should be noted that the once-only measures, which had still made noticeable inroads on the deficit in 1997, were rather weaker in their impact in 1998. For some items on the...

In view of the fact that extensive tax relief measures have been envisaged for the tax reform of 2004-05, and since the economy continues its modest growth rate, the federal government decided to postpone its goal of achieving a "zero deficit" beyond 2007.