By establishing a sensible context in which the inevitable political struggles  BIS Review 42/2004  1  associated with setting budgetary priorities can take place, this information significantly affects the budget process and, ultimately, budget outcomes. Many analysts have worried about deficiencies in the concepts underlying the official budget estimates. Apart from a few exceptions, budget estimates are based on cash accounting.
Thus, they do not take into account the accrual of future obligations or revenues and do not offer an accurate picture of the entire fiscal situation.