Fiscal policy audit

The aim of a fiscal policy audit is to provide a strong basis for decision-making and public debate concerning fiscal policy.

Fiscal policy audit provides decision-makers with useful information on the preparation of fiscal policy and its knowledge base.

As regards fiscal policy, the National Audit Office audits:

  • the reliability of information used in decision making

  • the functionality and effectiveness of steering instruments

  • whether the picture given of the financial position of the central government and the sustainability of general government finances is true and fair.

Publications by the fiscal policy audit functions

NAOF conducts 1–2 fiscal policy audits each year. Fiscal policy audit also produces information for fiscal policy monitoring.

All publications by the fiscal policy monitoring and audit functions

Latest fiscal policy audits

  • Fiscal policy monitoring and audit

Reliability of fiscal statistics

15.11.2022 - 06:45

Based on the audit conducted, fiscal statistics are reliable and provide a good basis for fiscal policy-making. They are produced in compliance with the common EU guidelines.
  • Fiscal policy monitoring and audit

Functioning of the central government spending limits system – Expenditure can be limited by the system, but other fiscal policy rules are also needed

18.6.2021 - 06:45

The spending limits rule has limited the growth of central government expenditure. However, the expenditure objective of the spending limits system is not set consistently in relation to other fiscal policy objectives. Therefore, the spending limits system alone is not sufficient to ensure the balance of central government finances. Consistency between the expenditure objective of the spending limits system and other fiscal policy objectives should be ensured, and it should be reassessed during the parliamentary term.
  • Fiscal policy monitoring and audit

Reconciliation of fiscal policy and employment policy

24.6.2020 - 06:45

An overall picture should be drawn of employment measures and their impact on general government finances and households’ income and expenditure. It would provide more diverse and comprehensive information for the selection and preparation of future measures. No comprehensive assessment of the employment measures as a whole and of their mutual impacts has been made during Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s Government term.