Abdulmenaf Bexheti

"An increase in salaries does not mean investing in human capital," said economics professor Abdulmenaf Bexheti of the South Eastern Europe University in the western town of Tetovo.

"If we want to invest in human capital then we need to invest extensively and consistently in the education sector, from preschool to higher education."

If the government has its way, Macedonia will spend a record sum of ?3.18 billion in 2016, 6 per cent more than this year's budget, which already broke the record.

The government plans to gather ?2.87 billion in revenue, which means a budget deficit of 3.2 per cent of GDP, or about ?308 million.