mandatory expenditures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mandatory expenditures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to finance, budgeting, or accounting to refer to expenses that are required and cannot be avoided. Example: "The government must prioritize mandatory expenditures such as healthcare and education in its budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Moody's, a rating agency, says that "large mandatory expenditures in the budget", especially "generous social spending", must be curbed.

The Economist

While this is not cheap, it accounts for a small share of the budget deficit, which topped 10 percent of the country's G.D.P. in 2009 and remained at 8.7 percent last year, swollen by plummeting tax revenue and mandatory expenditures as the country sank into recession and unemployment surged.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In other words, unless Congress affirmatively approves the president's decision, sooner or later, he has to spend the money Congress appropriates for mandatory expenditure.

Huffington Post

Further, the need for other mandatory expenditure like food, housing, and other family members living on the salary will change the affordability estimate.

BMC Health Services Research

By 2016 mandatory spending will amount to 71% of government expenditures.

Forbes

Choices do, in fact, have to be made.Senior Republicans now believe that Mr Obama has never been serious about tackling the cost of entitlements, the mandatory categories of expenditure that principally cover pensions and health insurance for the elderly, as well as health care for the very poor.

The Economist

It includes reliable and internationally comparable statistics on public and mandatory private social expenditure at programme level.

Unicef

Switzerland has no other mechanisms in place like mandatory guidelines and expenditure targets to regulate physicians' generic prescription practices.

BMC Health Services Research

Under mandatory minimum sentences, state expenditures for prisons have soared 70percentt, state figures show.

The New York Times

To evaluate a project, it is mandatory that the estimates of both capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenditures (OPEX) be developed.

Chemical Projects Scale Up How to Go from Laboratory to Commercial

The reimbursement data, based on a fee-for-service framework, included expenditures covered by the mandatory, basic coverage offered by Swiss health insurers.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing government or organizational finances, use "mandatory expenditures" to clearly indicate expenses that are legally or contractually required. For instance, "Social Security and Medicare are considered mandatory expenditures in the federal budget".

Common error

Avoid using "mandatory expenditures" interchangeably with "discretionary spending". "Mandatory expenditures" are fixed and required, while discretionary spending is optional and subject to budget adjustments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mandatory expenditures" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct. Examples show it describing required financial obligations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "mandatory expenditures" refers to required or legally obligated expenses, as highlighted by Ludwig. While grammatically sound and primarily used in news, scientific, and business contexts, its frequency is relatively low. To enhance clarity in writing, consider related phrases like "required spending" or "obligatory expenses". Avoid confusion with discretionary spending by understanding the distinction between fixed obligations and optional expenses. It is important to remember the specific context to ensure this expression is relevant to the topic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required spending

Emphasizes the necessity of the expenses.

obligatory expenses

Highlights the binding nature of the financial obligations.

compulsory outlays

Focuses on the enforced nature of the payments.

unavoidable costs

Stresses the lack of alternatives for these expenses.

fixed obligations

Highlights the unchanging and predetermined nature of these expenses.

inescapable spending

Emphasizes the impossibility of avoiding these expenditures.

non-discretionary spending

Indicates that these expenses are not subject to choice or adjustment.

committed funds

Highlights that the funds are already allocated and cannot be used for other purposes.

statutory expenses

Highlights expenses mandated by law.

budgetary mandates

Focuses on expenditures dictated by a budget.

FAQs

How can I use "mandatory expenditures" in a sentence?

"Mandatory expenditures" are costs a government or organization is obligated to pay. For example, "A significant portion of the government's budget is allocated to mandatory expenditures like Social Security and Medicare".

What's an alternative to "mandatory expenditures"?

You can use phrases like "required spending", "obligatory expenses", or "compulsory outlays" as alternatives to "mandatory expenditures", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "mandatory expenditures" and "discretionary spending"?

"Mandatory expenditures" are legally required payments, while discretionary spending is optional and subject to budget adjustments.

Why are "mandatory expenditures" important in budget planning?

"Mandatory expenditures" are crucial for budget planning because they represent unavoidable financial obligations. Accurate forecasting of these expenditures ensures financial stability and proper allocation of resources.