World Bank Document

Nursing persons include graduate, practical, Table 26. Central government expenditure
assistant, and auxiliary nurses; the inclusion of
auxiliary nurses enables a better estimation of the The data on central government finance in Tables
availability of nursing care. Because definitions of 26 and 27 are from the IMF Government Finance
nursing personnel vary-and because the data Statistics Yearbook, IMF data files, and World Bank
shown are for a variety of years, generally not country documentation. The accounts of each
more than two years distant from those specified- country are reported using the system of common
the data for these two indicators are not strictly definitions and classifications found in the IMF
comparable across countries.
Draft Manual on Government Finance Statistics. Due
The daily calorie supply per capita was calculated by to differences in coverage of available data, the
dividing the calorie equivalent of the food supplies individual components of central government
in an economy by the population. Food supplies expenditure and current revenue shown in these
comprise domestic production, imports less tables may not be strictly comparable across all
exports, and changes in stocks; they exclude ani- economies. The shares of total expenditure and
mal feed, seeds for use in agriculture, and food lost revenue by category are calculated from national
in processing and distribution. The daily calorie currencies.
requirement per capita refers to the calories needed The inadequate statistical coverage of state, proto
sustain a person at normal levels of activity and vincial, and local governments has dictated the use
health, taking into account age and sex distribu- of central government data only. This may seritions,
average body weights, and environmental ously understate or distort the statistical portrayal
temperatures. Both sets of estimates are from the of the allocation of resources for various purposes,
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
especially in large countries where lower levels of
The summary measures in this table are government have considerable autonomy and are
weighted by population.
responsible for many social services.
It must be emphasized that the data presented,
especially those for education and health, are not
comparable for a number of reasons. In many
Table 25. Education
economies private health and education services
are substantial; in others public services represent
The data in this table refer to a variety of years, the major component of total expenditure but may
generally not more than two years distant from be financed by lower levels of government. Great
those specified, and are mostly from Unesco.
caution should therefore be exercised in using the
The data on number enrolled in primary school refer data for cross-country comparisons.
to estimates of total, male, and female enrollment Central government expenditure comprises the
of students of all ages in primary school; they are expenditure by all government offices, departexpressed
as percentages of the total, male, or ments, establishments, and other bodies that are
female populations of the primary school age to agencies or instruments of the central authority of
give gross primary enrollment ratios. While many a country. It includes both current and capital
countries consider primary-school age to be 6-11 (development) expenditure.
years, others do not. The differences in country Defense comprises all expenditure, whether by
practices in the ages and duration of schooling are defense or other departments, for the maintenance
reflected in the ratios given. For some countries of military forces, including the purchase of miliwith
universal primary education, the gross enroll- tary supplies and equipment, construction,
ment ratios may exceed 100 percent because some recruiting, and training. Also falling into this catepupils
are below or above the country's standard gory is expenditure for strengthening the public
primary-school age.
services to meet wartime emergencies, for training
The data on number enrolled in secondary school civil defense personnel, and for foreign military
were calculated in the same manner, with second- aid and contributions to military organizations and
ary-school age considered to be 12-17 years.
alliances.
The data on number enrolled in higher education are Education comprises expenditure for the provifrom
Unesco.
sion, management, inspection, and support of pre-
The summary measures in this table are primary, primary, and secondary schools; of uniweighted
by population.
versities and colleges; and of vocational, technical,
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