Governmental experiment for the introduction of zero-base budgeting Presentation and criticism of the programme proposal system of 2004, suggestions for moving forward

In 2004, during the preparation of the budget for the following year, the budget chapter managers were required to submit claims for chapter managed appropriations and other development funds broken down by programmes, and the government decided about the distribution of public funds on the basis of these claims with a view to implement the government's programme, social and development policies, to establish a more cost-efficient state, as well as to curtail absolute and relative squandering. The experiment was unique, since as it is now known such professionally developed techniques were used by the government neither before, nor after that year. This study explores the usefulness and the possible future of this initiative.