While in Europe and in United States, governments are trying to cut public spending to reduce deficits, Macau has the opposite problem: it is unable to spend as close as much as it budgets.

In the first 10 months of 2011, the Macau government’s total public expenditure was MOP31.3 billion (US$3.9 billion).

That is less than 60 percent of what it budgeted for the overall year, when there is only more two months to go.

Even so, total public expenditure is up 14.7 year-on-year, according to the Financial Services Bureau.

A fiscal surplus of MOP 59.53 billion was recorded in the first ten months of 2011, up by 68.3 percent year-on-year, due to the increment in public revenue from the direct taxes on gaming.

In the first ten months of 2011, total public revenue has risen by 45.0 percent, to MOP 90.82 billion.

That is already 29.4 percent more than what was budgeted for the overall year.