Social Expenditures of Oil Extracting Azerbaijan and Non-Oil-Extracting Georgia Equal - Rovshan Agayev

Baku / 20.11.17 / Turan: The economist Rovshan Agayev equalizing the expenses of the state budget of Azerbaijan and Georgia, came to the conclusion that the budget expenditures per capita in the dollar equivalent of oil-extracting Azerbaijan and non-oil-extracting Georgia are almost the same.

On his Facebook page, the economist noted that the budget of the Social Protection Fund together with the state budget expenditures for 2018 is 22.3 billion manat, at the current rate of 13 billion dollars, which in terms of per capita makes up 1,340 dollars.

And the state budget of Georgia is planned for the next year at the level of 12.5 billion lari, in dollars 13 billion, which in terms of per capita is 1315 dollars.

"As their statistics show, despite large oil money, the planned per capita spending in Azerbaijan and Georgia is almost the same," he said.

At the same time, the economist noted there is a big difference in medical expenses - 740 million manat (450 million dollars - USD 45 per capita) is provided in the state budget of Azerbaijan for medicine, and 929 million lari (365 million dollars) - in Georgia - USD 98 per capita).

Further citing examples in other social spheres, Agayev emphasized that Azerbaijan plans to spend 2 billion 650 million dollars (273 dollars per capita) on social security, and Georgia - 1 billion dollars (269 dollars per capita), and on education Azerbaijan plans to spend 1 billion 170 million dollars (120 dollars per capita), and Georgia plans to spend 470 million dollars (125 per capita).

"These comparisons are important not to calm ourselves with sweet tales of development," Agayev said. -71D-