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Public services in perspective

Original title: Publieke dienstverlening in perspectief.

Whenever a new Dutch government is being formed, the Netherlands Institute for Social Research/SCP compiles a memorandum describing trends in the public services and the consequences of those trends for public spending in the forthcoming government term. The Memorandum includes forecasts of the use of services in areas such as education, care, police, judicial system, social security, childcare, culture, recreation and public transport. These forecasts are placed alongside the existing forecasts compiled by the various ministries in order to identify any potential pinchpoints. In addition to forecasts, this Memorandum also contains a historical analysis of the trend in the costs of public services. Core notions here are population ageing, the increasing demands being placed on public provisions, lagging labour productivity and rising wage costs per employee. Finally, this Memorandum looks at the benefits derived from the use of public services by different groups in society and at the opinions of the Dutch public on government policy and on possible cuts in public services. The intention is that these key figures and analyses should contribute to the political decisions to be made for the new Coalition Agreement.