1.7 ... and the situation here and now

The national accounts are an important tool in Finland's economic policy planning and implementation, and they also play a major role in EU cooperation. In the European Union, national accounts data can be used for purposes of

steering and monitoring monetary policy: the criteria of economic and monetary union have largely been determined by reference to national accounts figures (deficit in general government, general government debt and GDP);

granting financial aid to EU regions: expenditure through the structural funds is partly based on regionalised national accounts figures; and

determining the EU's own resources: for example, total EU assets are counted as a percentage of the Member States' combined gross national incomes (GNIs).

In international comparisons, national accounts data can be used for

comparing the roles of general government in different countries;

analysing the interdependencies between different economies;

comparing the composition and destination of exports; and

comparing growth rates or figures for disposable income per capita.

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7