Purpose

This paper aims to provide a commentary on how well the New Zealand (NZ) Government has used the budget as a tool to tackle the social and economic problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of public budgeting as a political instrument is also critiqued.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis was carried out of relevant documents that included government policy statements, budgets, news articles and website information on the pandemic. Meaningful interpretation of information and reflections helped provide the basis of the commentary.

Findings

Public budgeting has a prominent role in addressing a major global crisis. Budgets need to quickly respond to the needs of the moment in saving lives and sustaining people’s well-being, businesses and the economy. In a crisis situation, the social, political and economic factors become crucial determinants of budgetary policy measures. Although strong political leadership is required to deliver budgets under unimaginable circumstances, the ideology of the political party in government can be a powerful predictor of fiscal policies. Crisis budgeting will result in mounting budget deficits and public debts that will take many years for future generations to pay back.

Practical implications

This paper provides a significant learning for other nations. These lessons will guide budget policymakers to prepare better for potential crisis in the future.

Originality/value

This paper is original and based on the NZ Government’s budgetary response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be valuable in formulating budget policies and public funding decisions in a major crisis.

中文翻译：

---

新西兰政府应对 COVID-19 大流行的预算

目的

本文旨在评论新西兰 (NZ) 政府如何将预算用作解决与 COVID-19 大流行相关的社会和经济问题的工具。公共预算作为一种政治工具的作用也受到批评。

设计/方法/方法

对包括政府政策声明、预算、新闻文章和有关大流行的网站信息在内的相关文件进行了分析。对信息和思考的有意义的解释有助于提供评论的基础。

发现

公共预算在解决重大全球危机方面发挥着重要作用。预算需要快速响应当前拯救生命和维持人们福祉、企业和经济的需求。在危机情况下，社会、政治和经济因素成为预算政策措施的关键决定因素。尽管在难以想象的情况下需要强有力的政治领导才能交付预算，但政府中政党的意识形态可以成为财政政策的有力预测指标。危机预算将导致不断增加的预算赤字和公共债务，这将需要很多年才能让后代偿还。

实际影响

这篇论文为其他国家提供了重要的学习经验。这些经验教训将指导预算决策者更好地为未来的潜在危机做好准备。

原创性/价值

本文为原创，基于新西兰政府对 COVID-19 大流行的预算应对。这对于制定重大危机中的预算政策和公共资金决策具有重要意义。