Government net lending/borrowing in Ecuador

Ecuador's government deficit (net borrowing) is the negative balance of the general government accounts when spending exceeds revenue over a year; when revenue exceeds spending there is a surplus. It is usually expressed as a share of GDP.

Calculated as the difference between total revenue and non-financial spending of general government over the period, following national accounting standards. The outcome is set against GDP to obtain the ratio.

The deficit drives the government's borrowing needs and the path of public debt. In Ecuador, a dollarised, oil-exporting economy, the balance depends heavily on crude revenue and shapes the country's access to external financing.

It is a low-frequency figure subject to revision. It is worth distinguishing the headline balance from the primary balance (which excludes debt interest) and from the cyclical component tied to the economic cycle.