Local public finances in Brazil: are mayoral characteristics important?

Fabiana Rocha and Karina Bugarin Veronica Orellano

No 2016_04, Working Papers, Department of Economics from University of São Paulo (FEA-USP)

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the importance of mayor’s characteristics (education, experience, and gender) on Brazilian municipalities’ fiscal outcomes. In order to estimate the causal effects we use a regression discontinuity methodology based on close elections. We find no evidence that the fiscal performance of a municipality is affected by mayor’s gender. Regarding the qualification of the mayor, we find robust evidence that education and experience matter only for the composition of spending. Experienced and educated mayors choose to devote a smaller fraction of the budget to current expenditures and as a consequence seem to be more concerned with the quality of public finances.

Keywords: Education; experience; gender; mayors; regression discontinuity. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C52 H83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-03-14
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gth and nep-mic
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