Strengthening the Equity, Efficiency and Effectiveness of Social Expenditures in Belarus - A World Bank Report - Chapter-Based Policy and Reform Review

Jul 19, 2026

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This World Bank report examines how public social expenditures in Belarus can be strengthened to better achieve equity, efficiency, and effectiveness. It reviews macro-fiscal trends and government budget characteristics, then assesses the current social assistance system’s capacity to respond to shocks, with options to modernize its design and performance. It also analyzes pension challenges under economic adjustment and demographic aging, adjusts health financing patterns for demographic pressures and fiscal constraints, and evaluates education sector reforms to improve both efficiency and equity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages118

Reading Time4 h 57 min

Executive Summary

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Overview of Macro-Fiscal Trends and Challenges

Macroeconomic Background

Major Characteristics and Trends of the Government Budget

Chapter 2. Modernizing Social Assistance System to Strengthen Safety Net’s Adaptivity to Shocks

Characteristics of the Current Social Assistance System in Belarus

Efficiency of Current Social Assistance System

Policy Options for Modernization of the Social Assistance System

Chapter 3. Addressing Pension System Challenges

Pension System Parameters, Demographic and Fiscal Environment

Recent Policy Changes

Pension System Projections

Policy Options

Chapter 4. Adjusting Health Financing Patterns

Health Outcomes

Health Financing

Service Delivery Organization

Efficiency Analysis

Policy Options

Chapter 5. Implementing Further Reforms in Education Sector

Education Outcomes

Education Financing

Efficiency Analysis of Education Expenditure and Resource Utilization

Financing Mechanisms and Analysis of Education Expenditure at the Subnational Level

Policy Options

Annex

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Strengthening the Equity, Efficiency and Effectiveness of Social Expenditures in Belarus A World Bank Report Financed by the EU Trust Fund to support Economic Policy Reform Program in Belarus Republic of Belarus Government Fiscal Year January 1 – December 31 Currency Equivalents: (Exchange Rate Effective as of May 18, 2020) Currency Unit: Belarusian Rubel (BYN) US$1 .00 = BYN 2.4462 US$1 .00=SDR 1.3628 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS BYN CEQ CIS EBRD ECA EFSD EM FX GASP GDP GEATS HUS ICU IMF LEICA Belarusian Rubel Commitment to equity Commonwealth of Independent States European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Europe and Central Asia Region Eurasian Funds for Stabilization and Development Emerging markets Foreign currency State targeted social assistance program Gross Domestic Product Main information and analytical center under the Ministry of Education Housing utility subsidy program Intensive care unit International Monetary Fund Low-earnings income credit allowance MLSP MOE MOF MOH NCD NPP OECD OOP PISA PPP SA SOE SP UHC UMICs USD Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Ministry of Education Ministry of Finance Ministry of Health Non-communicable diseases Nuclear Power Plant Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Out of pocket expenditures Program for International Student Assessment Purchasing Power Parity Social assistance State-owned enterprises Social protection Universal health coverage Upper Middle-Income Countries United State Dollar | Regional Vice President<br>Acting Country Director<br>Global Practice Director Practice Manager Lead Economist Task Team Leader | Anna Bjerde Alex Kremer Lalita Moorty Gallina Vincelette Faruk Khan Maryna Sidarenka | | --- | --- | TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................................8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW OF MACRO-FISCAL TRENDS AND CHALLENGES ..............................................17 A. Macroeconomic Background .......................................................................................................... 17 B. Major Characteristics and Trends of the Government Budget....................................................... 28 CHAPTER 2. MODERNIZING SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SYSTEM TO STRENGTHEN SAFETY NET’SADAPTIVITY TO SHOCKS ...........................................................................................................................................37 A. Characteristics of the Current Social Assistance System in Belarus ............................................... 37 B. Efficiency of Current Social Assistance System............................................................................... 41 C. Policy Options for Modernization of the Social Assistance System................................................ 44 CHAPTER 3. ADDRESSING PENSION SYSTEM CHALLENGES STEMMING FROM ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT, DEMOGRAPHY AND AGING ..............................................................................................................50 A. Pension System Parameters, Demographic and Fiscal Environment ............................................. 51 B. Recent Policy Changes .................................................................................................................... 56 C. Pension System Projections ............................................................................................................ 57 D. Policy Options ................................................................................................................................. 63 CHAPTER 4. ADJUSTING HEALTH FINANCING PA

FAQs

What is the main focus of the report on Belarus’s social spending?

The report focuses on strengthening equity, efficiency, and effectiveness in Belarus’s social expenditures. It evaluates current systems and proposes policy options across social assistance, pensions, health, and education.

How does the report address social assistance in Belarus?

It characterizes the current social assistance system, assesses its efficiency, and develops policy options to modernize the system so the safety net can better adapt to shocks.

Which sectors are analyzed in addition to social assistance?

The report analyzes pensions, health financing, and education sector reforms. For each sector, it reviews key challenges, relevant outcomes, and policy options to improve performance under fiscal and demographic constraints.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Ophelia