Download or read book The Return of the Deficit written by Etienne Callatay and published by Leuven University Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Prior to the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008 Belgium's fiscal balances and debt ratios seemed to be on a firm consolidation path. Today, however, Belgium is facing a major budgetary challenge, albeit to some extent lesser than that of other European countries. This book offers a closer look at the evolution of public finance in Belgium over the decade 2000-2010. It covers Belgium's macro-economic environment, its budgetary policy, changes to the tax system and social security, the evolution of public expenditure, debt management, and fiscal federalism.