Recently returned from a trip to Africa, Katainen continued his statement by saying, “It is also appropriate to evaluate what kinds of effects different adjustment measures like tax increases and expenditure cuts would have on economic growth and employment.”
Katainen stresses that the government will only make its final decision in March.
“Economic policy matters cannot be decided by a shouting match. The government will decide on such matters in due process, relying on Finland’s top expertise in the matter,” he said.
Minister of Finance Jutta Urpilainen said a day earlier that the government should reconsider its goal to clear up state debt by 2015, an opinion echoed by many experts attending yesterday's economic forum convened by Urpilainen.
Conservative National Coalition Party member Kimmo Sasi was one of many who responded to Urpilainen’s statement with indignation, saying that efforts to resolve the debt should under no circumstances be abandoned.
