Part G - Derived items

In broad terms, the primary use of GFS is in fiscal analysis or the analysis of government financial data for the purpose of developing and evaluating government economic policy. Fiscal analysts focus on measures that are indicative of the financial situation of governments and the impact of government operations on the rest of the economy. While a wide range of financial information is required to meet the needs of fiscal analysts, a prominent feature of fiscal analysis is the use of key indicators that provide a convenient summary of financial outcomes. These indicators are derived using reported flows and / or stock positions. They are sometimes referred to as analytical balances or balancing items. Aggregates are generally calculated by summing individual flows / stocks, while balances are calculated by subtracting one aggregate from another aggregate.