Who Governs? Effective Public Organizations in Latin America
2022-2023This research project analyzes the effectiveness of public sector organizations by exploring who wields power and how within various Latin American states. I argue that administrative law (horizontal autonomy) along with the structure of the state (vertical autonomy) shape effective governance. Integrating scholarship in public law with findings in political science and sociology, I compare governance across Latin American states, test hypotheses about the interaction between the state and administrative law, and evaluate the effects on governance using data from the Global Public Servant Survey (GPSS) in addition to data and case studies in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico. Ultimately, my research reveals how power and autonomy shape good governance and influence the ability of citizens to thrive as well as promote their faith in democracy.
