Definitions- und Messprobleme von Budgetdefiziten und Staatsverschuldung

The conventional government deficit measured as the difference between total government income and spending during one fiscal year has little economic meaning. In this article alternative deficit concepts and estimates for Switzerland are presented. These include the structural, primary and inflation-adjusted deficits, the difference between current and capital budgeting, and the distinction between gross and net as well as between real and nominal debt.