財政審、利払い費増に警鐘　「金利ある世界」での歳出改革提言

　財政制度等審議会（財務相の諮問機関）は２１日、経済財政運営の基本指針「骨太の方針」に向け建議（意見書）を取りまとめ、鈴木俊一財務相に提出した。日銀の政策変更で「金利のある世界」が現実になり、国債（借金）利払い費が膨らめば、先進国で最悪の水準にある日本の財政状況は一段と厳しさを増すと指摘。「財政を強靱（きょうじん）化させることが強く求められている」と警鐘を鳴らした。
　財政審財政制度分科会の増田寛也会長代理（日本郵政社長）は建議提出後の記者会見で「金利の上昇で利払い費が巨額に上る可能性がある。財政当局は今こそ、一層の緊張感を持ってほしい」と歳出改革を進めるよう注文を付けた。鈴木財務相は、骨太の方針の策定に向けて「財政健全化は一丁目一番地だと認識している」と語った。（2024/05/21-16:04）

A Japanese government advisory panel stressed the need Tuesday to strengthen the country's fiscal resilience after the Bank of Japan ended its negative interest rate policy earlier this year.
   The Fiscal System Council, which advises the finance minister, warned that Japan's finances, already the worst among developed countries, will deteriorate further if debt servicing costs swell.
   The central bank in March raised short-term interest rates to a range of zero to 0.1 pct from minus 0.1 pct, its first rate increase in 17 years.
   The council also called for reforming medical and elderly care services in line with the country's declining birthrate and aging society.
   On social security costs, the council said that it is important to curb public spending and insurance premium burdens. Specifically, it sought to optimize expensive medical services and impose heavier burdens on wealthy aged people.