Efficiency and Productivity in a City Council in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza/Ceará
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21118/apgs.v16i2.15281Abstract
Research objective: To analyze the efficiency and productivity of councilors in a city council belonging to the metropolitan region of Fortaleza/Ceará.
Theoretical framework: This research is based on the theory of public choice, when it advocates that political agents act only to maximize their own interests derived from the exercise of their positions, to the detriment of the public interest (Downs, 1957) and that incentives are necessary to reduce this behavior (Eisenhardt, 1989).
Methodology: The data analysis is carried out in the period between 2013 and 2020, covering two legislatures and includes an initial sample of 31 councilors, distributed in an unbalanced panel with 156 observations. Efficiency and productivity are calculated from data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist productivity index. Difference of means and trend analysis are applied to verify the hypotheses of the study.
Results: In addition to observing an increase in total expenses and a reduction in the number of propositions, the research results show that the efficiency and loss of productivity of councilors was, on average, 83% and 17% over the legislatures, respectively. The findings also showed that the average cost of legislative production was R$12,933.69. Finally, there was a 117% increase in productivity between legislatures, considering only councilors reappointed to positions through elections.
Originality: Until now, no research has studied efficiency and productivity at the level of political agents in the municipal legislative sphere. Nor has it explored its evolution and trend during (and between) electoral campaigns.
Theoretical and practical contributions: This study ratifies the assumption of the public choice theory by signaling evidence of behavior by political agents that is dissonant with the efficiency and productivity expected at the end of the mandate. The evidence allows for greater social control of the actions carried out in city councils.
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