Portuguese Local Government Research Articles

Impact of demographic, political and financial factors on municipal transparency: a dynamic panel approach

PurposeThis paper seeks to identify some of the most important drivers of Portuguese local government transparency in their activities over time. The recent literature on good governance has repeatedly identified transparency as central to promoting accountability, preventing corruption and mismanagement and stimulating greater civic engagement. As local government is the main provider of many primary services to the population, evaluating its transparency is especially relevant given that misconduct or maladministration will have a strong impact on the population's well-being. Given increased diffusion of European good governance norms and practices, the authors believe the Portuguese case to be relevant across the EU.Design/methodology/approachThe authors develop a dynamic panel data model to evaluate the simultaneous influence of both political and contextual variables on the municipal transparency index (MTI) in 308 Portuguese municipalities during the period from 2013 to 2017.FindingsThe results suggest support for previous studies that found increased Internet enabled transparency in municipalities with low levels of indebtedness (per capita), are more highly populated, are governed by left-wing parties, demonstrating higher levels of financial efficiency. The urban/rural status, measured by population density, is not a significant predictor.Originality/valueThe paper seeks to confirm earlier analyses of these same data over a longer period of years to substantiate the validity of those findings. This is important especially in the context of the political variable, to demonstrate it was not necessarily a particular collection of left-wing mayors, but that the relationship holds over time, across administrations, because the dataset covers two election periods.

Are there scale economies in urban waste and wastewater municipal services? A non-radial input-oriented model applied to the Portuguese local government

Local government policy intervention, especially by means of structural reform, requires a detailed knowledge of the scale and scope characteristics of the local government services, explicitly solid urban waste collection and wastewater treatment. However, unfortunately little is known about scale economies in Portuguese municipal services, apart from water. The main contribution of this paper is to address this gap in the empirical literature on Portuguese local government. The major objectives of the paper are: (a) to investigate whether scale economies can explain differential council performance in terms of treating wastewater and collecting urban waste and (b) how this might shed light on the question of optimal jurisdictional size, i.e., the quantity of consumed resources and the volume of delivered services that maximize council productivity. By using a non-radial input-oriented model, we examine scale economies and optimal scale size for all 308 Portuguese local councils over the years 2008 and 2015. We find that (dis)economies of scale arise within each council cluster considered and as a probable consequence of combining the activities of two or more councils. We attempt to draw various policy implications from the analysis.

Transparency in Portuguese Local Government: A Study of its Determinants

Transparency of public management is fundamental to bringing citizens closer to public managers and as such universally considered an element of good governance.The main aim of this study is to identify the factors determining transparency in public management of Portuguese local authorities. Using the Municipal Transparency Index of 2013 and 2014, socio-demographic, political and economic-financial variables are studied for the population of 308 Portuguese local authorities by the means of testing the previously formulated research hypotheses in the light of the agency theory.The results show that transparency in public management of Portuguese local authorities is determined by their size, the number of individuals aged between 15 and 74 who use the internet, unemployment rate, financial autonomy and the net debt.

Women Mayors in Portugal: A Case Study in Political Representation and Citizenship

Abstract Introduction The article presents a historical analysis of the participation of women in Portuguese politics and reveals the positive effects of the introduction of the parity law in 2006. In the 2015 national elections, for the first time one third of the elected the Members of the Portuguese Parliament were women. However, in municipalities there is still a long way to go to reach this level of female political representation. Does the political system limit women’s access only to elected positions? Thus, important questions remain: why are women still a minority in local politics? What obstacles do they encounter? And what can be done to improve the situation? Materials and Methods For this investigation, data were collected on the electronic pages of municipalities and political parties, as well as in the press, to monitor the evolution of the presence of women in Portuguese local government, initially as members of the administrative commissions appointed to manage municipal councils from 1974 to the first elections that took place on December 12, 1976 and then as elected representatives from 1976 to the latest 2017 local elections, comparing this level with central government. Results The study of this group reveals higher educational levels and more specialized jobs among women than among men, particularly in teaching and management. There is also discussion of partisan membership and it is revealed that left-wing parties invest more in women for local government than do right-wing parties. Discussion Although four decades have passed since the democratic regime was established, the representation of women in politics is still incipient. We present some examples of policy actions that can encourage the presence of women in local government and increase their role as active citizens.

Economies of scope in Portuguese local government using an augmented Hicks–Moorsteen approach

ABSTRACTWhereas a substantial empirical literature has investigated scale economies in local government, by contrast little effort has been directed at economies of scope. To address this gap in the literature, this paper empirically examines economies of scope in 308 Portuguese local governments and the extent to which it explains differential council performance. We employ a new methodology using geometric distance functions, an augmented Hicks–Moorsteen index, and partial frontiers for (in)efficiency assessment in local government. The results demonstrate that most councils that ‘externalize’ service provision face diseconomies of scope, which increase in proportion to the externalization of service provision.

Can We Put Numbers on Municipal Performance and Sustainability? A New Strategic Paradigm

This paper considers “measuring what matters” in local government and applies a Council Sustainability Index (CSI) to all 308 Portuguese municipalities. Using a Multi-criteria Decision Analysis Methodology (MCDA), an additive evaluation model is applied which aggregates 25 indicators across four dimensions to assess Portuguese local government sustainability. A critical evaluation of performance is provided along with a financial sustainability analysis and governance evaluation, which identifies the chief factors which explain different councils’ performance. We show that this approach sheds new light on Portuguese local government evaluation. CSI breaks new ground and it is applicable mutatis mutandis to most local government systems worldwide.

Municipal Sustainability Influence by European Union Investment Programs on the Portuguese Local Government

The assessment of the impact of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) on Portuguese local government and which factors determine it is important given the magnitude of funds involved. As part of this larger question, this paper considers whether the holistic sustainability of local authorities—as measured by a Council Sustainability Index—can influence the impact of ESIF on the performance of Portuguese councils and which factors best explain these performance differences. Using a geometric distance function jointly with the Hicks-Moorsteen index, we investigate and present a conclusion on the differential impact of ESIF on sustainable and non-sustainable Portuguese councils over the period 2000 to 2014. Our findings also suggest that ESIF should continue fostering economic and social development at the local level regardless of council size or regional location since overall development will flow from this economic and social structural adjustment strategy.

European Cohesion Policy impact on development and convergence: a local empirical analysis in Portugal between 2000 and 2014

ABSTRACTSubstantial European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) monies have been directed at regional economic and social development in Portugal in which Portuguese local government plays a vital role. Given the magnitude of funding, an important question turns on the effect of the ESIF on overall local authority performance. This paper focuses on the impact of the ESIF on Portuguese municipality performance and development. In particular, it investigates whether the ESIF improved the performance of Portuguese local government and which factors best explain its effect on municipality development. The analysis considers all 308 Portuguese local authorities for the period 2000–2014. Various policy implications flowing from the empirical results of this analysis are explored.

La organización municipal y la autonomía en Portugal

Based on the analysis of the historical and legal context of the Portuguese municipalism, it is seeked to foresee the evolution of the local governance model in the light of the analysis of the main lines that guided the recent reform of the Portuguese local government.

Articulação de competências no poder municipal: um estudo sobre a sua recente reforma em Portugal

<p>Os poderes dos órgãos do Poder Municipal nem sempre se articulam adequadamente. As reformas da Administração Municipal realizadas em todo o mundo têm como objetivo essa melhoria. A mais recente reforma, ocorrida em Portugal em 2013, visou igualmente essa finalidade e inspirou-se no Docu­mento Verde da Reforma da Administração Local, lançado em 2011 pelo XIX Governo Constitucional. Os objetivos definidos são os de melhorar a eficiência e a eficácia da gestão pública e definir um novo para­digma da gestão local, por meio de uma melhor organização do território, da melhoria da gestão e do financiamento e do reforço da democracia local. Este ensaio visa averiguar o impacto que esta reforma teve nas compe­tências dos órgãos autárquicos mais importantes: as Assem­bleias Municipais, as Câmaras Municipais, os Presidentes de Câmara e as Juntas de Freguesia (subunidades municipais). A escolha desses órgãos deve-se ao fato de serem os que detêm os poderes deliberativo e execu­tivo no nível municipal.</p>

Measuring Local Government Transparency

Despite the importance of government transparency to promote accountability and prevent maladministration, empirical research has failed to produce proper tools to assess and compare government transparency practices. Most contributions to the topic do not address it from a stakeholder’s perspective, particularly in selecting the indicators to include in transparency indexes. This paper contributes to the debate by developing a municipal transparency index based on information available on local government official websites. The methodological approach borrows insights from the decision analysis literature to structure the index through a participatory process. An application to the Portuguese local government setting is briefly discussed.

O primeiro passo do federalismo financeiro: determinação de funções: análise de soluções a propósito das recentes alterações na legislação autárquica portuguesa

O primeiro passo do federalismo financeiro: determinação de funções: análise de soluções a propósito das recentes alterações na legislação autárquica portuguesa

The Main Determinants of the Use of the Cost Accounting System in Portuguese Local Government

Abstract: This paper explores the main determinants of the use of the cost accounting system (CAS) in Portuguese local government (PLG). Regression analysis is used to study the fit of a model of accounting changes in PLG, focused on cost accounting systems oriented to activities and outputs. Based on survey data gathered from PLG, we have found that the use of information in decision‐making and external reporting is still a mirage. We obtain evidence about the influence of the internal organizational context (especially the lack of support and difficulties in the CAS implementation) in the use for internal purposes, while the institutional environment (like external pressures to implement the CAS) appears to be more deterministic of the external use. Results strengthen the function of external reporting to legitimate the organization's activities to external stakeholders. On the other hand, some control variables (like political competition, usefulness and experience) also evidence some explanatory power in the model. Some mixed results were found that appeal to further research in the future. Our empirical results contribute to understand the importance of interconnecting the contingency and institutional approaches to gain a clear picture of cost accounting changes in the public sector.

Local Political Leadership in Portugal: Excepcionalism or Convergence Towards a 'Mayoral Model'?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the reform of institutional forms that frame local government in Portugal, and to put them into a comparative European perspective. The paper addresses the following research question: To what extent have Portuguese local government reforms shown convergence or divergence with the local political leadership models in Europe over the last three decades of democracy? We hypothesized that reforms affected the local government system in different ways, using some of its components and following more explicitly international trends than others. This hypothesis was tested against the model of local political leadership, including the rules governing the recruitment of mayors and local councillors. This study is based on both archival research for the Portuguese case and the literature review for the survey of international trends. The findings indicate the existence of similarities between reforms in Portugal and reforms in other European countries. But they also indicate divergence in some important dimensions of the local government system.
 
 KEYWORDS: • local government reform • institutional forms • recruitment • models of local political leadership • Portugal

Conformity and diversity of accounting and financial reporting practices in Portuguese local government

AbstractPortuguese governmental accounting has evolved from essentially a cash‐based budgetary accounting system to an accrual‐based financial and cost accounting system. Evidence from financial reports shows a great level of diversity amongst municipalities' voluntary compliance with the new accounting rules. Using a sample of Portuguese municipalities in the year 2003 we calculate and analyse the levels of compliance with the practices required by law and document the diversity in compliance across municipalities. The differences across municipalities are explained by some fundamental factors: size, financial conditions, urban characteristics, and diffusion across neighbouring municipalities. We show an unexpected effect of size. Larger municipalities comply less with accounting standards. Organizational complexity, conservative practices, and aversion to change may explain this result. Copyright © 2007 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Local Power and Economic Policy: Local Authority Economic Initiatives in Portugal

SYRETT S. (1994) Local power and economic policy: local authority economic initiatives in Portugal, Reg. Studies 28, 53-67. Local authority economic policy has experienced significant development throughout most European countries since the early 1980s, reflecting important changes in local-central relations as well as processes of economic restructuring. In Portugal, local government has experienced an increase in financial and legal autonomy from the central state since the late 1970s. This paper examines how these recent changes have created a new involvement for Portuguese local government in promoting local economic initiatives. Drawing upon results from a questionnaire survey of local authorities and interviews with local authority Presidents, this paper describes the scale and type of local authority economic policy which has developed in central Portugal. By examining these actions within a framework of changing local-central state relations, this analysis points to the constraints and opportunities for municipal action within Portugal. SYRETT S. (1994) Le pouvoir local et la politique économique: les actions économiques des autorités locales au Portugal, Reg. Studies 28, 53-67. Depuis le début des années 80 la politique économique des autorités locales a vu un développement considérable dans la plupart des pays européens, ce qui reflète d'importants changements dans les rapports entre le centre et la municipalité aussi bien que des processus de restructuration économique. Au Portugal l'administration locale a vu une augmentation de son autonomie financiére et juridique depuis la fin des années 70. Cet article examine comment ces changements récents on fini par une nouvelle participation de la part de l'administration locale portugaise dans la promotion des actions économiques locales. Faisant appel aux résultats d'une enquête par questionnaire des autorités locales et des interviews avec les présidents des autorités locales, cet article présente l'importance et la nature de la politique économique des autorités locales qui s'est développée dans le Portugal central. Tout en examinant ces actions au sein d'un cadre qui constitue un changement des rapports entre le centre et la municipalité, cette analyse indique les contraintes et les possibilités en faveur de l'action municipale au Portugal. SYRETT S. (1994) Gemeindekompetenz und Wirtschaftspolitik: wirtschaftliche Initiativen von Ortsbehörden in Portugal, Reg. Studies 28, 53-67. Die Wirtschaftspolitik der Ortsbehörden hat seit Anfang der achtziger Jahre in den meisten europäischen Ländern eine bedeutende Entwicklung erfahren, die sowohl wichtige Veränderungen im Verhältnis zwischen örtlicher und zentraler Verwaltung als auch Prozesse wirtschaftlicher Umstrukturierung widerspiegeln. In Portugal ist Ortsbehörden seit Ende der siebziger Jahre ein Zuwachs an finanzieller und gesetzlicher Selbstständigkeit von der zentrallen Landesbehörde zugestanden worden. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht, inwiefern diese Veränderungen der juUngsten Zeit fur die portugiesischen Ortsbehörden eine neuartige Beteiligung bei der Förderung örtlicher Wirtschaftsinteressen bedeuten. Unter Heranziehung der Ergebnisse einer Umfrage unter Ortsbehörden und Interviews mit Vorsitzenden von Ortsbehörden beschreibt dieser Aufsatz die Gröβenordnung und Art der von Ortsbehörden betriebenen Wirtschaftspolitik, die sich in Mittelportugal entfaltet hat. Durch Untersuchung dieser Tätigkeiten im Rahmen der sich wandelnden öffentlichen Beziehungen zwischen Zentral- und Ortsbehörden zeigt diese Analyse die Beschränkungen und sich anbietenden günstigen Gelegenheiten zu städtischem Handeln in Portugal auf.