Bureaucracy in Latin America

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Polga-Hecimovich
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
Personnel Staffing ◽  
Bureaucratic Performance ◽  
Bureaucratic Agencies

The bureaucracy is a central body in the effective functioning of democracy and oversight of the rule of law, and knowledge of how public agencies interact with politics and effect policy implementation is crucial in understanding the “black box” of the state. However, this body of non-elected officials can only fulfill its mandate and achieve good governance if it meets certain conditions, such as technical expertise, a clear organizational hierarchy, meritocratic recruitment for personnel staffing, as well as political support, resources, and the autonomy to devise solutions based on expertise. Unfortunately for Latin America, its bureaucratic agencies have seldom enjoyed these conditions. Instead, public administration in the region has been characterized by patronage appointments, patrimonialism, and a weak capacity to execute public policies. Yet this blanket depiction of the Latin American bureaucracy obscures a great deal more diversity—as well as the fact that Latin American bureaucrats and public agencies are more dynamic and responsive than they are often portrayed. To begin, the size and role of the public administration have evolved constantly throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, growing under statist development policies of the mid-20th century before shrinking under neoliberalism in the 1990s and again growing during the 2000s in some countries. Moreover, the quality of the bureaucracy to efficiently provide services and implement policy varies by country, over time, and even within countries among agencies. This means that there is also variation in the scope and quality of the bureaucracy’s chief functions of policymaking, regulation, and implementation. In fact, politicians and bureaucrats in the region have found a number of creative solutions to agency weakness. Moving forward, politicians can guarantee even better bureaucratic performance by addressing some enduring challenges, such as public sector corruption and an institutional setup that favors short-term policymaking.

scholarly journals Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Caregivers of People With Dementia in Latin America: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 275-276
Author(s):  
Jose Aravena ◽  
Jean Gajardo ◽  
Laura Gitlin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Person With Dementia

Abstract In a scenario of increasing longevity and social inequalities, Latin-America is an important contributor to the worldwide dementia burden. Caregivers’ health is fundamental to maintain the person with dementia quality of life. However, caregiving is a culturally sensible role that requires tailored solutions. The aim is to synthesize the evidence about non-pharmacologic interventions targeted to caregivers of people with dementia in Latin-American contexts. A comprehensive review of interventions in caregivers and persons with dementia in Latin-American countries was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus with studies published until January 27th, 2020. Randomized clinical trials of non-pharmacologic interventions targeted to caregivers of people with dementia or dyads where included. Qualitative synthesis of the evidence was presented and analyzed. Overall, 9 pilot RCT were included for the final analysis (6 Brazil, 1 Colombia, 1 Mexico, 1 Perú). The biggest study recruited 69 caregivers and the smallest 13 dyads, with follow-up range of 3-6 months. 5 control groups received at least some other non-standard care type of intervention. 8 were targeted exclusively to caregivers (4 group intervention, 3 individual, and 1 combined) and 1 multicomponent intervention. Most frequent measured outcomes were caregiver’s burden, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and quality of life, and person with dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms. Individual interventions report better results in caregiver parameters such as burden and depressive symptoms and person with dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms. Group interventions presented mixed results. Nevertheless, the quality of evidence was low. There is a critical need to study interventions for caregivers in Latin-American contexts.

“Quality of Government”

2021 ◽  
pp. 41-62
Author(s):  
Nikolas Kirby ◽  
Jonathan Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Political Philosophy ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Alternative Account

Until recently, with some notable exceptions, contemporary political philosophy has had little to say about topics of “governance.” Unlike earlier thinkers, contemporary theorists have largely ignored topics such as bureaucracy, institutions, corruption, public integrity, and public service. Accordingly, Rothstein and Jan Teorell’s idea of “Quality of Government” (“QoG”), combined with the work of other political scientists and public administration theorists, invites a welcome and long overdue return to topics of governance for political philosophy. This chapter first aims to clarify the precise question to which “QoG” is intended to be answer, that is, the question of “good governance” and distinguish it from more traditional philosophical concerns with justice and legitimacy. We review the limited philosophical landscape, and then critique of the QoG as a theory of good governance. Finally, we tentatively outline an alternative account, and consider directions for future research.

Neighborhood environment, self-rated health and quality of life in Latin America

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis F Gomez ◽  
Carolina Soto-Salazar ◽  
José Guerrero ◽  
María Garcia ◽  
Diana C Parra
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Self Rated Health

Abstract To conduct a systematic review examining the associations between neighborhood environments and self-rated health (SRH) and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in the urban context of Latin America. We conducted a structured search of quantitative studies in three bibliographic databases published in Spanish, English, Portuguese and French from January 1990 to December 2015. We restricted the search to studies conducted in Latin-American cities with one million and more inhabitants. Eleven studies were finally included in the analysis. Ten were cross-sectional studies and one was a cohort follow-up study. Two studies found positive associations between accessibility to parks and HR-QOL. One study found that high neighborhood social capital was positively associated with SRH. Neighborhood socioeconomic status was positively associated with both HR-QOL and SRH in two studies. A walkable neighborhood was positively associated with SRH in two studies. Three studies included attributes related with neighborhood security perception and road safety, with higher scores of HR-QOL, both in the physical and mental dimensions, while high levels of street noise were negatively associated. Narrowness and slope of streets were negatively associated with SRH. No association was found between the perception of neighborhood security and SRH. The results of this systematic review show that several studies conducted in Latin America have found significant associations between neighborhood environment and SRH and HRQOL. However, the relatively small number of studies and the heterogeneity among them require further studies to better understand this topic in the region.

Why is Trade Reform So Popular in Latin America?: A Consumption-Based Theory of Trade Policy Preferences

2003 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 423-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Baker
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Free Trade ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Trade Reform ◽  
Economic Stagnation ◽  
The Face ◽  
Trade Preferences ◽  
National Economies ◽  
Latin American Countries

Despite wavy national economies and a perception among observers that economic globalization is growing increasingly unpopular, aggregate support for free trade remains quite high across Latin America. This finding is robust to the wording of survey questions and has been quite resilient through time, even in the face of economic stagnation. Current theories of trade preferences, including the widely applied Heckscher-Ohlin model, do not explain this trend. Instead, the author proposes a theory of trade preferences based not on what citizens produce but on what they consume. Statistical analyses of different surveys, including one conducted in fourteen Latin American countries, demonstrate that a consumption-based approach best accounts for trade preferences across individuals and countries. Moreover, the theory provides an explanation for the overall popularity of free trade in Latin America: citizens recognize and appreciate the lower price, increased variety, and higher quality of goods that have come in the wake of trade liberalization.

scholarly journals CCHD Screening Implementation Efforts in Latin American Countries by the Ibero American Society of Neonatology (SIBEN)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto Sola ◽  
Susana Rodríguez ◽  
Alejandro Young ◽  
Lourdes Lemus Varela ◽  
Ramón Mir Villamayor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Neonatal Nurses ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
American Society ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Pulse Oximetry Screening

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the four most common causes of infant mortality in Latin America. Pulse oximetry screening (POS) is useful for early diagnosis and improved outcomes of critical CHD. Here, we describe POS implementation efforts in Latin American countries guided and/or coordinated by the Ibero American Society of Neonatology (SIBEN), as well as the unique challenges that are faced for universal implementation. SIBEN collaborates to improve the neonatal quality of care and outcomes. A few years ago, a Clinical Consensus on POS was finalized. Since then, we have participated in 12 Latin American countries to educate neonatal nurses and neonatologists on POS and to help with its implementation. The findings reveal that despite wide disparities in care that exist between and within countries, and the difficulties and challenges in implementing POS, significant progress has been made. We conclude that universal POS is not easy to implement in Latin America but, when executed, has not only been of significant value for babies with CHD, but also for many with other hypoxemic conditions. The successful and universal implementation of POS in the future is essential for reducing the mortality associated with CHD and other hypoxemic conditions and will ultimately lead to the survival of many more Latin American babies. POS saves newborns’ lives in Latin America.

scholarly journals Baseline characteristics of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated with teriparatide in a real-world setting in Latin America: a subregional analysis from the Asia and Latin America Fracture Observational Study (ALAFOS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joao L. Cunha-Borges ◽  
Guillermo Meléndez Mier ◽  
Noemí Casas ◽  
Adriana Medina ◽  
Jose Fernando Molina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Real World Setting ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fracture History

Abstract Background Osteoporosis is a major healthcare concern in Latin America. Factors such as changing demographics, fragmented healthcare systems, and financial considerations may result in a huge increase in the burden of osteoporosis in this region. The aim of this article is to describe the baseline clinical characteristics and fracture history of patients who are prescribed teriparatide in normal clinical practice in Latin America. Methods We conducted a prospective, multinational, observational study (the Asia and Latin America Fracture Observational Study [ALAFOS]) in 20 countries worldwide to assess the incidence of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis receiving teriparatide as a part of routine clinical practice in a real-world setting. In this subregional analysis of the ALAFOS study, we report the clinical characteristics, fracture history, risk factors for osteoporosis, comorbidities, previous osteoporosis therapies and health-related quality of life measures at baseline for patients from the four participant Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Results The Latin America subregional cohort included 546 postmenopausal women (mean [SD] age: 71.0 [10.1] years; range: 40–94 years), constituting 18% of the ALAFOS total population. The baseline mean (SD) bone mineral density T-scores were − 3.02 (1.23) at the lumbar spine and − 2.31 (0.96) at the femoral neck; 62.8% of patients had a history of low trauma fracture after the age of 40 years and 39.7% of patients had experienced ≥1 fall in the past year. Osteoporosis medications were used by 70.9% of patients before initiating teriparatide. The median (Q1, Q3) EQ-5D-5 L Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for perceived health status at baseline was 70 (50, 80). The mean (SD) worst back pain numeric rating scale score for the overall Latin American cohort was 4.3 (3.4) at baseline. Conclusions This baseline analysis of the Latin America subregion of the ALAFOS study indicates that patients who are prescribed teriparatide in the four participant countries had severe osteoporosis and high prevalence of fractures. They also had back pain and poor health-related quality of life. The proportions of patients with severe or extreme problems on the EQ-5D-5 L individual domains were lower than those in the overall ALAFOS study population.

The Organizational Consequences of Politics: A Research Agenda for the Study of Bureaucratic Politics in Latin America

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 56-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Polga-Hecimovich ◽  
Alejandro Trelles
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
The State ◽  
Bureaucratic Politics ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Organizational Consequences ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Methodological Approaches

AbstractThe study of the bureaucracy in Latin America, within the study of politics, has long been little more than an afterthought. It is assumed to lie in the realm of public administration, distinct from other regional subfields that have increasingly gained the attention of political scientists. As a result, scholars' understanding of Latin American bureaucratic politics is limited. Here, we conduct a comprehensive survey of peer-reviewed articles to evaluate the state of this subfield. We find a thematically, analytically, and methodologically splintered discipline, but a prime one for exploitation and new avenues of research. This article summarizes salient trends in the literature, describes advances in the study of bureaucracy in Latin America, and discusses limitations in this scholarship. It suggests a roadmap for scholars by proposing a series of research questions and recommends a series of analytical and methodological approaches to address those questions.

Ageing, Development and Social Service Delivery Systems in Latin America: Problems and Perspectives

1982 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge I. Tapia-Videla ◽  
Charles J. Parrish
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Service ◽  
National Development ◽  
Social Service Delivery ◽  
Service Delivery Systems

ABSTRACTEconomic development in Latin America has facilitated the broadening and improvement of governmental services in public health, social security and public administration. These improvements, particularly in public health, have precipitated changes in rates of morbidity and mortality. Many countries have also experienced a fall in birth rates during this period. The result of people living longer and having fewer children is a progressive ageing of Latin American societies. This article explores some critical questions posed by the ageing of populations in these societies. Within the context of varying patterns of national development, special emphasis is placed on the systemic potential for politico-administrative response in the area of social and health services.

scholarly journals From Practices to Teaching: Challenges and Opportunities of Public Administration in the Arab World

2019 ◽  
pp. 74-98
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
The Public ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
History Of ◽  
Governmental Institutions

This paper examines the challenges facing PA education, considering the colonial heritage of the region. Over the past decade, researchers have paid attention to Public Administration (PA) and its education in the Middle East. Many explored the history of the PA in the region and the quality of PA programs within high education institutes. In the context of the developmental challenges that face the current generation in the region, and under the current political circumstances which have negative consequences on PA, many voices call for a reliable and high-quality PA education and good governance, which includes accountability, transparency, democracy, and other concepts related to bureaucratic machinery within the public institutions. There is therefore a need to examine what governmental institutions, together with academic institutions in the Arab States, are doing to make significant progress in this field. The paper examines the main challenges facing PA education in Arab countries.

scholarly journals Corporate governance in Latin America and Spain: a comparative study of regulatory framework

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-441
Author(s):  
Guadalupe del Carmen Briano Turrent ◽  
Eva Argente Linares ◽  
María Victoría López Pérez ◽  
Lázaro Rodríguez-Ariza
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Stock Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
The Other ◽  
Corporate Governance Codes

Based on institutional theory, this study presents a comparative analysis of the regulatory framework for corporate governance to be found in the most important emerging markets in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico), which represent most of the stock market capitalization in the region. In addition, we analyzed the situation of Spain, representing the European economy, given this country’s strong investment presence in the Latin American stock market. The aims of the study are: 1) to extend the current literature related to corporate governance in Spain and emerging Latin American economies; 2) to highlight the evolution of the institutional and regulatory framework for corporate governance in these countries; and 3) to compare the diverse regulatory framework, with particular focus on the laws and corporate governance codes in the above mentioned countries. Despite the trend for international convergence of corporate governance systems toward the Anglo-Saxon model, both in legislation and in good governance codes, there are significant differences between countries. The present convergence is promoted by different institutions; systems differ, thus, in their implementation and application of good governance practices. The countries in question have adopted a hybrid model based, on the one hand, on laws and decrees, and on the other, on the voluntary adoption of codes of good governance. The aim of these measures is to enhance investor protection, to define the functions of the Board and of the Audit Committee, and to improve transparency, especially regarding conflicts of interest, related party transactions and corporate risk for listed companies. The evidence presented in this paper suggests that Argentina, Brazil and Chile have strengthened their legislation in the case of minority investor protection and market transparency (Circular No. 3531 in Argentina, Law No. 10303 in Brazil and the Take-over Law in Chile). On the other hand, Mexico and Spain have issued regulations focused on transparency information (the Transparency Law in Spain and the CUE Circular in Mexico). Codes of good governance have been adopted by all countries except Chile, which bases its corporate governance on the OPAs (Take-over bids) Act. The practices addressed in corporate governance codes are focused on the Board, whose main function is to monitor and supervise management performance. These codes contain a set of recommended practices defining the functions, structure, composition and creation of different committees that support the Board, together with aspects related to COB-CEO duality. Spain and Chile are the countries that have adopted most such practices. The audit function is another important corporate governance dimension in the codes, concerning the role, liabilities and composition of the Audit Committee. This body is responsible for ensuring full and transparent disclosure of company transactions. Mexico is the country that pays most attention to the audit function. Practices relating to the general meeting, disclosure, conflicts of interest and Board support committees are established in all governance codes, especially in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

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