The Design of Budget Transparency Policies in Latin America: A Comparative Analysis
El diseño de las políticas de transparencia presupuestaria en América Latina: Un análisis comparado
O desenho das políticas de transparência orçamentária na América Latina: Uma análise comparada
Abstract (en)
Why do Latin American countries exhibit such wide gaps in budget transparency and oversight, despite following similar traditions and facing comparable pressures? The literature points to various structural, institutional, and contextual factors to explain these differences, often downplaying the role of policy design. This article explores that role by theorizing three patterns of budget transparency policies and analyzing them empirically across a population of 16 Latin American countries. Through a comparative congruence analysis based on secondary data, the study shows that transparency has been adopted and instrumentalized as a strategy for budget consolidation and rationalization, dissemination, and openness. Some countries have consistently adopted all three patterns, leading to improved budget oversight, while others have only implemented consolidation or dissemination measures, which have proven insufficient for enhancing public accountability over the budget. These findings highlight the importance of analyzing both the normative approach and the instrumental configuration of budget transparency policies to better understand their effects and improve their effectiveness.
Abstract (es)
¿Por qué, a pesar de seguir tradiciones y enfrentar presiones similares, los países latinoamericanos exhiben brechas tan amplias en transparencia y supervisión presupuestarias? La literatura apunta a distintos factores estructurales, institucionales y coyunturales para explicar estas diferencias, dejando en un segundo plano el rol del diseño de las políticas públicas. Este artículo explora este rol a través de la teorización de tres patrones de políticas de transparencia presupuestaria y su análisis empírico en una población de 16 países latinoamericanos. Mediante un análisis comparado de congruencia basado en información secundaria, se evidencia que la transparencia ha sido adoptada e instrumentalizada como estrategia de consolidación y racionalización, divulgación, y apertura presupuestaria. Algunos países latinoamericanos han adoptado consistentemente los tres patrones, alcanzando una mejora de la supervisión presupuestaria, pero otros se han restringido a medidas de consolidación o divulgación que han resultado insuficientes para mejorar el control democrático sobre el presupuesto. Estos hallazgos subrayan la necesidad de analizar el enfoque normativo y la configuración instrumental de las políticas de transparencia presupuestaria con el fin de comprender mejor sus efectos y mejorar su efectividad.
Abstract (pt_BR)
Por que os países latino-americanos apresentam diferenças tão amplas em termos de transparência e supervisão orçamentária, mesmo seguindo tradições semelhantes e enfrentando pressões comparáveis? A literatura aponta diversos fatores estruturais, institucionais e conjunturais para explicar essas diferenças, deixando em segundo plano o papel do desenho das políticas públicas. Este artigo explora esse papel por meio da teorização de três padrões de políticas de transparência orçamentária e sua análise empírica em uma população de 16 países latino-americanos. Com base em um método comparativo de análise de congruência e utilizando dados secundários, observa-se que a transparência foi adotada e instrumentalizada como estratégia de consolidação e racionalização, divulgação e abertura orçamentária. Alguns países adotaram de forma consistente os três padrões, alcançando melhorias na supervisão orçamentária, enquanto outros se limitaram a medidas de consolidação ou divulgação, que se mostraram insuficientes para fortalecer o controle democrático sobre o orçamento. Esses resultados destacam a importância de analisar tanto o enfoque normativo quanto a configuração instrumental das políticas de transparência orçamentária para melhor compreender seus efeitos e aprimorar sua efetividade.
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