JAKARTA (JP): Despite the fear that a possible U.S. recession could hurt the country's economic growth, the government says it will maintain the 2008 state budget assumptions.

"Basically, a state budget is made to direct a country's economy. It is not possible to change the state budget (assumptions) every time the country is facing economic uncertainty," Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Thursday.

She was speaking in response to calls by some economists that the government change its budget assumptions on fears a possible U.S recession would severely impact the country's economy.

On Tuesday, stock markets across the globe tumbled because of the fear of a U.S. recession. The Jakarta Composite Index fell the most in five years, plunging by 7.7 percent to close at 2,294.52, while the rupiah fell to Rp 9,475 against the dollar.