Mechanisms between decision and implementation: effectiveness in municipal housing councils

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

This article evaluates, within the framework of the Participatory Institutions (PIs) Effectiveness agenda, whether and how municipal housing councils affect public policies. First, it has identified the types of decisions produced by these councils. Then the effects on the policy were verified.

Material and Methods:

For this part of the investigation, decisions aimed at driving policies were analyzed. They are related to the definition of criteria of a federal program and the definition of guidelines on urban operations with municipal resources. In the first case, it was made an analysis of the decisions of councils of different municipalities on selection criteria of the program Minha Casa, Minha Vida. In the second case, it was analyzed decisions of the housing council of São Paulo for housing construction.

Results:

The finds shows that decisions affect and produce effects on public policy. Furthermore, it spells out how councils focus on policy, revealing mechanisms that affect the effects of their decisions. The mechanisms are induced discretion, bureaucratic efficiency and local interinstitutional competence.

Discussion:

How these mechanisms operate can change the degree and speed of effects on public policy, not only of municipal housing councils, but also of other PIs.

Keywords
public policies; participatory institutions; effectiveness; municipal councils; housing