Romania Public Workers Flag State Spending Waste

The APSAP study, published in October and based on responses from 2,169 public-sector workers surveyed between March and May, found that just over 30% said investments had produced visible changes in their institutions, such as renovated offices, new equipment or better administrative processes. The rest saw only partial improvements or none at all.

That gap between spending and results is central to the story. The survey suggests modernization efforts are often failing to translate into better services, even as public money is being spent on them. For investors, that raises questions about the efficiency of fiscal policy, the pace of reform and whether budget consolidation can be achieved without squeezing productive investment.

Respondents said the biggest source of waste is consultancy contracts, followed by keeping positions with no clear utility, flawed digital platforms, useless equipment purchases and modernization projects aimed more at image than function. More than half said purchases are made largely to justify spending available budgets, while 6 in 10 said some works look good in presentations but deliver no real results.

The report lands as governments across the region face rising demands for discipline in public finances. In Romania, that debate has sharpened as policymakers weigh how to contain deficits without choking growth, making public spending efficiency a more immediate economic issue than a purely administrative one.

If the findings resonate in government, they could support tighter procurement rules, scrutiny of consulting spending and a push for more measurable returns on modernization programs. If they do not, the survey points to a deeper problem: public funds continuing to move through the system without producing visible gains.