Andean Group - November 2013 (ISSN 1741-4466)

Economy Minister Luis Arce has unveiled the government’s proposed 2014 national budget for B$195bn/US$28bn, up 14% on 2013. The proposal is based on projected real annual GDP growth of 5.7% and inflation of 5.5%. These assumptions are down from the 6.5% growth and 7.5% inflation forecast for this year. Arce said that public investment would reach US$6bn in 2014, up 29.47% on the current year, while President Morales later told reporters that B$3.19bn (US$461m) would go to social assistance programmes. These include the Bono Juancito Pinto, a B$200 (US$29) subsidy for school children introduced in 2006; the Renta Dignidad, a universal welfare program for Bolivians over 60 without pensions, since 2008 providing monthly hand-outs of between B$200-B$250; and also the Bono Juana Azurduy, started in May 2009, which provides payments of B$1,820 (US$265) to pregnant women or those with children under two years of age.

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