You are here

Does Participatory Budgeting have an Effect on the Quality of Public Services? The Case of Peru’s Water and Sanitation Sector

Photo by Pixabay.

Name of the Asset | Does Participatory Budgeting have an Effect on the Quality of Public Services? The Case of Peru’s Water and Sanitation Sector
Type of Asset | Working Paper
Date | March 2013

Summary

Since 2004 the government of Peru has implemented a process of participatory budgeting (PB), which is mandatory for every sub-national government. PB is a process oriented to democratizing and making public budgeting more transparent by creating formal channels of participation, thus promoting the inclusion of politically and economically weak sectors of society in the budget allocation bargaining process. This study focuses on its effects on the provision and quality of service delivery, namely, water and sanitation coverage and quality.

Using econometric techniques as well as interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, the paper analyzes the link from PB to coverage and water service quality indicators. Results show that there is no evidence of a positive relationship. There is no systematic association between PB and water coverage and service quality. At the root of this lack of connection, the paper finds weaknesses both in the PB process itself as well as among the different actors in the process, not well equipped to participate meaningfully in the budgeting process. Electoral turnout and the share of women voting though seems to have a positive impact on the process.

Authors:

  • Lorena Alcázar
  • Miguel Jaramillo

Country and/or Region | Peru
Name of the Program | GDN's Global Research Project 'Varieties of Governance: Effective Public Service Delivery'
Funder(s) | Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Download the Full Study here

If you cite this resource, please notify communications@gdn.int with the subject line 'GDN citation'.