In the spring of this year, the President instructed the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development to conduct an expert review of the effectiveness of budget expenditure and its optimisation. The task was addressed with the additional engagement of specialists from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), HSE and other analytical centres. These specialists included Andrey ZHULIN, Vice Rector of HSE and Director of the Centre for Analysis of the Activity of Executive Authorities.