Dependence of economic growth on government expenditure by function in the Baltic states

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the dependence of economic growth on government spending by function in the Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The author has used total expenditure and composition approaches to explore the relationship between the variables. The investigation covers the period from 1996 to 2020. The author has employed descriptive statistics and econometric techniques, including automatic linear modelling (ALM). The study's insights reveal that the growth of the Latvian and Estonian economies depends on general government spending. This dependence is similar in both countries, that is, 62.8% in Latvia and 66.5% in Estonia. In Lithuania, 57.7% of fluctuations in economic growth are explained by spending on social protection. In Latvia, the influence of spending on social protection and economic affairs amounts to 63.4% of economic growth. In Estonia, spending on social protection and health explains 78.1% of the fluctuations in economic growth. The findings of the study may be useful in ensuring a more efficient allocation of government finances in the Baltic states.