Finance minister

The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.

A minister of finance (also called financial affairs, the treasury, the economy, or economic affairs) has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances. Finance ministers are often found in state or provincial governments if that country has a form of federalism.

The powers of a finance minister vary between governments. Sometimes the finance minister is the most powerful cabinet post, like in Canada or New Zealand. Other times they are unpopular posts if they must raise taxes or cut spending.

In the United States, the finance minister is called the Secretary of the Treasury, though there is a separate Treasurer of the United States, and it is the director of the Office of Management and Budget who drafts the budget. In the United Kingdom, the finance minister is called the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In Hong Kong it is called the Financial Secretary, though there is a Secretary for the Treasury subordinate to him. In Australia, the Treasurer is responsible for economic matters and is assisted by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (formerly Finance and Administration) who heads a separate department.

Country-related articles and lists

•  Angola: Minister of Finance (Angola)
•  Argentina: Minister of Economy and Production
•  Australia: Treasurer of Australia (with list) - There is also a Finance Minister who is junior to the Treasurer.
•  Brazil: Ministry of Finance (Brazil)
•  Canada: Minister of Finance (list)
•  Chile:Ministry of Finance of Chile
•  People's Republic of China: Minister of Finance; see also the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Governor of the People's Bank of China
•  Cyprus: Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus
•  Denmark: Finance Minister (list)
•  Dominican Republic: Ministry of Finance (list)
•  Egypt: Minister of Finance (Egypt)
•  Ethiopia:Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
•  Finland: Minister of Finance (with list)
•  France: Minister of the Economy, Finance and Employment (list)
•  Germany: Minister of Finance (list)
•  Greece: Minister for Economy and Finance
•  Hong Kong: Financial Secretary (with list), Secretary for the Treasury (under Financial Secretary)
•  Iceland: Minister of Finance
•  India: Finance Minister of India, (list)
•  Indonesia: Minister of Finance (with list)
•  Iraq: Minister of Finance (Iraq)
•  Ireland: Minister for Finance (with list)
•  Israel: Finance Minister of Israel
•  Italy: List of Ministers of Economy and Finance
•  Japan: Minister of Finance (with list)
•  Lebanon: Minister of Finance
•  Malaysia: Minister of Finance (Malaysia)
•  Mexico: Secretary of Finance
•  Montenegro: Ministry of Finance (with list)
•  Netherlands: Ministry of Finance
•  New Zealand: Minister of Finance (with list)
•  Norway: Minister of Finance (with list)
•  Pakistan: Finance Minister of Pakistan (with list)
•  Philippines: Secretary of Finance (with list)
•  Malta: Minister of Finance (with list)
•  Poland: Minister of Finance
•  Romania: Economy and Finance Minister of Romania
•  Russia: Finance Minister of Russia. See also Finance Minister of Imperial Russia.
•  Samoa: Minister for Finance (with list)
•  Serbia: Diana Dragutinović
•  Singapore: Minister for Finance, Ministry of Finance
•  South Africa: Finance Ministers of South Africa
•  South Korea: Ministry of Strategy and Finance
•  Spain: Minister of Economy and Finance
•  Sweden: Minister for Finance (with list)
•  Switzerland: Member of the Federal Council heading the "Federal Department of Finance" (with list)
•  Taiwan: Taiwan Ministry of Finance
•  Thailand: Ministry of Finance
•  Uganda: Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
•  United Kingdom: Chancellor of the Exchequer (with list)

• Northern Ireland: Minister of Finance and Personnel
•  Scotland: Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (with list)

•  Uruguay: Minister for Economy and Finance
•  United States: Secretary of the Treasury (with list)

See also

• Public finance