Do you care about how governments spend the money they collect?  If you’re like us here at Gen Squeeze, following the money is important. Each year, governments create budgets that set out priorities and assign money to them.  If something’s not in the budget, it’s pretty unlikely to happen.  

That’s why pushing governments to design their budgets to promote wellbeing from the early years onwards is a big part of what we do.  That work starts months before budgets are released, and continues long afterwards.  Through it all, we share our recommendations and analyses so that you can decide if you support proposed priorities, and if they are supported by evidence.

Haven’t thought about budgets before?  Don’t worry… here are 3 things we think everyone should know:

1. Gen Squeeze has repeatedly shown that governments spend far less to support younger people than older age groups, despite the growing time, money, service and climate squeeze they face.  

2. Media often misses the biggest budget stories. The focus tends to be on spending that’s flashy and new (but often small), overlooking what we spend on the biggest ticket items – medical care and old age security. 

3. Budgets make a news splash for a few days a year – but the real opportunity for influence is months before… that’s why Gen Squeeze’s budget work is year-round.