Municipal Performance: Does Mayoral Quality Matter?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Avellaneda, Claudia N.
• 署名单位: Texas A&M University System; Texas A&M University College Station
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1053-1858
• DOI: 10.1093/jopart/mun001
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 285-312
• 关键词: Public management; organizational performance; legislative success; city-managers; GOVERNMENT; determinants; intelligence; leadership; policies; LESSONS

摘要

This article presents the first empirical study in a Latin-American country on the effects of managerial quality upon municipal performance in education. Using 6 years of data from 40 Colombian municipalities, I assess the influence of mayoral qualifications-025EFeducation and job-related experience-025EFon the percentage of the eligible population actually enrolled in school. After considering other political, economic, and demographic factors, the findings show that mayoral qualifications are associated with greater school enrollment. This positive influence, however, decreases under external constraints, such as the presence of illegal armed groups. The findings should apply in any setting where the provision of social services is decentralized and where the mayor also plays the role of city manager, performing both political and administrative functions. The study has implications for countries struggling to eradicate illiteracy as results show that mayoral human capital enhances educational performance.