Government revenues in the United States and in the English-speaking EU have recovered only slowly, however, and remain far below pre-GR levels. This is in contrast to most Continental and Eastern EU countries, where 2011 revenue-to-GDP ratios were already higher than before the recession and, hence, helped to finance higher benefit expenditures. In the Southern EU, where GDP growth was very low or negative, government revenues recovered only very little. These patterns have implications for both redistribution policy and for fiscal consolidation strategies.