austerity measures
noun[plural]
ECONOMICS,GOVERNMENTukusofficialactionby agovernmenttoreducetheamountofmoneyitspends, or theamountofmoneythatpeoplein acountryspend:
Thegovernmenthasimposedharsheconomicausteritymeasurestocontainthecrisis.
Austeritymeasuresannouncedtodayincludea €5 bncutto thewelfarebudget.