2010-05-15

Another bubble just popped: public "servants" compensations

Just as Governator Schwarzenegger announced it's new austerity plan, my friend blbl sent me an email about the austerity packages affecting Europe:

Spain:
Average decrease of 5% of public servants salaries, and a freeze of their compensation and retirement pension in 2011. Only one new employee will be hired for 10 retiring.

Portugal:
Salary freeze until 2013, only one new employee for 2 retiring, with a target reduction of 73,000 civil servants.

Greece:
No more 13th and 14th month salaries, 8% reduction in their bonuses (they already had 12% cut in March). The 13th and 14th of pension disappear.

Ireland:
Salaries were cut by 5 to 15% last year and won't be cut by an average of 5% this year. In addition, bonuses will be cut, and there's a hiring freeze. Public servants retiring will not be replaced.

Hungary:
Salary freeze for two years. The 13th month is gone for both public servants and retired ones.

Romania:
25% salary cut for all public servants, 10% cut in total number of them (there are 1.4 million of them). Pensions are also cut by 15%.

Latvia:

20% salary cut for all public servants, 10% cut in total number of them (there are 1.4 million of them). Pensions are also cut by 10%.

How to justify so many civil servants? How to justify 13 or 14th worth of salary? and of PENSION!?

These show that there's a major global bubble in public servants numbers and compensations, and this bubble going to pop. And like any other bubble popping, it's highly deflationary. 

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