The above factors have apparently deprioritized the budget deficit issue in the eyes of the Estonian public. Related indicators have been publicized in foreign publications, but not domestic ones. Only last year were the overall deficit and financial deficit figures published in Estonia. The budget deficit of the Estonian government has been both positive and negative in the 1990ies, going by international measurement standards. In addition, the fact that vernacular terminology ignores international nomenclature can hurt foreign investors' confidence, especially if the government proclaims that the budget is balanced when actually the overall deficit has been growing rapidly over the last few years.
Many states require their governments to practice balanced budget policy.
The Borrowing by the Republic of Estonia and State Guarantees for Foreign Loan Agreements Act ties borrowing to central government budget revenues. In addition, a new state budget bill and a bill of the restrictions on local government borrowing have been worked out. Under the new budget bill, restrictions on foreign loans are extended to all loans. Still, these restrictions are not sufficient to answer affirmatively the question whether Estonia intends to practice a Maastricht-style budgetary policy. First off, these draft laws contain no clear idea of a budget deficit.