Implementing Change

Adopting the accounting-driven principles described in this book has widespread relevance and especially to democratic countries with highly developed welfare states. Action steps include adopting fiscal targets that reflect the current balance sheet and long-term projections of future revenues and costs; using accrual accounting-based financial information across government; developing and sustaining independent institutions to evaluate and report upon financial sustainability; evaluating and managing government commercial assets (especially property) to improve resource use and increase revenues; evaluating and managing non-debt liabilities (including anticipated future costs); establishing debt-funded sovereign wealth funds to improve government revenues and increase financial resilience.