Vice-Provost for Research at the University of São Paulo, Full Professor at the Department of Political Science of the University of São Paulo, Director of the Center for Metropolitan Studies and editor of the Brazilian Political Science Review. Visiting researcher at the Department of Political Science of MIT on 2000-2001 and at the Department of Political and Social Science at the European University Institute (2009-2010). Research on the following subjects: inequality, federalism, decentralization, social policies and welfare state.
Este texto pretende demonstrar que a concentração da autoridade política varia entre os Estados f... more Este texto pretende demonstrar que a concentração da autoridade política varia entre os Estados federativos e entre políticas particulares, condicionando a capacidade de coordenação governamental de políticas. Neste sentido, discute-se, no caso brasileiro, como se deu a adoção do ...
O artigo refuta o argumento de que o federalismo no Brasil enfraquece a União e favorece minorias... more O artigo refuta o argumento de que o federalismo no Brasil enfraquece a União e favorece minorias sobrerrepresentadas no Congresso, mostrando que a regra de desproporção adotada no Brasil impede o veto da minoria sem que a maioria, por sua vez, tenha ecursos para tiranizar a minoria. Além disto, a União tem amplos poderes legislativos, e os partidos inibem tendências inerentemente limitadoras do federalismo. Por fim, não é fato que a aprovação de matérias de interesse federativo exija aprovação em uma multiplicidade de arenas decisórias em que supermaiorias são necessárias. Em conjunto, as instituições do federalismo brasileiro aproximam o Brasil das fórmulas que favorecem a autoridade do governo central.
This article shows the demos-enabling elements of the Brazilian federal state by examining the de... more This article shows the demos-enabling elements of the Brazilian federal state by examining the decision-making process of 59 legislative initiatives regarding the taxes, policies and expenditures of subnational units submitted to the Brazilian Congress between 1989 and 2006. The combination of two political institutions – the federal government’s broad powers to make decisions on subnational matters (right to decide) and the majority principle for approving changes in the federal status quo empowers the center without diminishing the rights of subunits. It is not necessary to obtain supermajorities in numerous veto arenas in order to approve legislation aimed at providing national goods, and regional minorities have few opportunities for vetoing. The center is empowered, not weak.
The study explores the relationship between federalism and territorial inequality, taking Brazil ... more The study explores the relationship between federalism and territorial inequality, taking Brazil as the object of analysis. The conclusion is that there is a trade-off between territorial inequality reduction and the full autonomy of local governments. The central government's redistributive role seems to be acondition for reducing revenue inequality between jurisdictions, and so reducing inequality in citizens' access to public services requires the central government to perform redistributive and regulatory role. On the other hand, local autonomy pushes toward inequality. Hence, federal regulation and local autonomy are combined in a given polity, the result tends to be bound inequality.
The article argues that local governments had already taken over the management of health care po... more The article argues that local governments had already taken over the management of health care policy in Brazil. Yet, there's no guarantee that local management will necessarily imply accountability, efficiency, as well as universal and equitable access to health care. It heavily depends on the incentives and controls upon local governments. Those are related to public policies institutional design. SUS built up, between 1988 and 1993, a complex institutional structure through decisions are to be taken, in order to accomplish health policy goals and answer new problems posed by reform implementation. The article analyses the SUS's institutional tools to induce local government actions committed to citizens welfare and health care quality. It concludes that although these mechanisms are not yet in their full operation, the challenge consists more in making them work better than replacing them by any other else.
The article shows that the drafters of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution approved political institu... more The article shows that the drafters of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution approved political institutions that combine broad jurisdictional authority to the Federal government along with limited institutional veto powers to subnational governments. The study has examined 59 initiatives of legislation addressing federal matters voted by the Chamber of Deputies from 1989 to 2006. The article explores how political institutions affect the decision-making process of federal issues, by distinguishing main actors´ preferences from federal institutions, controlled by presidential terms.
This is a dossier on method in studying politics. Prevailing methodologies are discussed focusing... more This is a dossier on method in studying politics. Prevailing methodologies are discussed focusing initially on elements relating to political ontology, processes analyzed, and the very explicative statute of different perspectives. Afterwards, advances brought by neoinstitutionalist analysis, historical studies, social network studies, and political anthropology are more carefully discussed.
Este texto pretende demonstrar que a concentração da autoridade política varia entre os Estados f... more Este texto pretende demonstrar que a concentração da autoridade política varia entre os Estados federativos e entre políticas particulares, condicionando a capacidade de coordenação governamental de políticas. Neste sentido, discute-se, no caso brasileiro, como se deu a adoção do ...
O artigo refuta o argumento de que o federalismo no Brasil enfraquece a União e favorece minorias... more O artigo refuta o argumento de que o federalismo no Brasil enfraquece a União e favorece minorias sobrerrepresentadas no Congresso, mostrando que a regra de desproporção adotada no Brasil impede o veto da minoria sem que a maioria, por sua vez, tenha ecursos para tiranizar a minoria. Além disto, a União tem amplos poderes legislativos, e os partidos inibem tendências inerentemente limitadoras do federalismo. Por fim, não é fato que a aprovação de matérias de interesse federativo exija aprovação em uma multiplicidade de arenas decisórias em que supermaiorias são necessárias. Em conjunto, as instituições do federalismo brasileiro aproximam o Brasil das fórmulas que favorecem a autoridade do governo central.
This article shows the demos-enabling elements of the Brazilian federal state by examining the de... more This article shows the demos-enabling elements of the Brazilian federal state by examining the decision-making process of 59 legislative initiatives regarding the taxes, policies and expenditures of subnational units submitted to the Brazilian Congress between 1989 and 2006. The combination of two political institutions – the federal government’s broad powers to make decisions on subnational matters (right to decide) and the majority principle for approving changes in the federal status quo empowers the center without diminishing the rights of subunits. It is not necessary to obtain supermajorities in numerous veto arenas in order to approve legislation aimed at providing national goods, and regional minorities have few opportunities for vetoing. The center is empowered, not weak.
The study explores the relationship between federalism and territorial inequality, taking Brazil ... more The study explores the relationship between federalism and territorial inequality, taking Brazil as the object of analysis. The conclusion is that there is a trade-off between territorial inequality reduction and the full autonomy of local governments. The central government's redistributive role seems to be acondition for reducing revenue inequality between jurisdictions, and so reducing inequality in citizens' access to public services requires the central government to perform redistributive and regulatory role. On the other hand, local autonomy pushes toward inequality. Hence, federal regulation and local autonomy are combined in a given polity, the result tends to be bound inequality.
The article argues that local governments had already taken over the management of health care po... more The article argues that local governments had already taken over the management of health care policy in Brazil. Yet, there's no guarantee that local management will necessarily imply accountability, efficiency, as well as universal and equitable access to health care. It heavily depends on the incentives and controls upon local governments. Those are related to public policies institutional design. SUS built up, between 1988 and 1993, a complex institutional structure through decisions are to be taken, in order to accomplish health policy goals and answer new problems posed by reform implementation. The article analyses the SUS's institutional tools to induce local government actions committed to citizens welfare and health care quality. It concludes that although these mechanisms are not yet in their full operation, the challenge consists more in making them work better than replacing them by any other else.
The article shows that the drafters of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution approved political institu... more The article shows that the drafters of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution approved political institutions that combine broad jurisdictional authority to the Federal government along with limited institutional veto powers to subnational governments. The study has examined 59 initiatives of legislation addressing federal matters voted by the Chamber of Deputies from 1989 to 2006. The article explores how political institutions affect the decision-making process of federal issues, by distinguishing main actors´ preferences from federal institutions, controlled by presidential terms.
This is a dossier on method in studying politics. Prevailing methodologies are discussed focusing... more This is a dossier on method in studying politics. Prevailing methodologies are discussed focusing initially on elements relating to political ontology, processes analyzed, and the very explicative statute of different perspectives. Afterwards, advances brought by neoinstitutionalist analysis, historical studies, social network studies, and political anthropology are more carefully discussed.
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Papers by Marta Arretche
aproximam o Brasil das fórmulas que favorecem a autoridade do governo central.
aimed at providing national goods, and regional minorities have few
opportunities for vetoing. The center is empowered, not weak.
access to public services requires the central government to perform redistributive and regulatory role. On the other hand, local autonomy pushes toward inequality. Hence, federal regulation and local autonomy are combined in a given polity, the result tends to be bound inequality.
aproximam o Brasil das fórmulas que favorecem a autoridade do governo central.
aimed at providing national goods, and regional minorities have few
opportunities for vetoing. The center is empowered, not weak.
access to public services requires the central government to perform redistributive and regulatory role. On the other hand, local autonomy pushes toward inequality. Hence, federal regulation and local autonomy are combined in a given polity, the result tends to be bound inequality.