This article was born of a reflection of members of the Scientific Committee of the Academic Division of Public Administration of the National Association of PostGraduate Studies and Research in Administration (ANPAD) - from his work in the period 2009 to 2012 - on the development of this field of knowledge in Brazil. The text describes and analyzes the factors that influence academic production in public administration in the country, highlighting its significance as an area within the ANPAD; debates around the education system, both at undergraduate and postgraduate, as in government schools, and finally, the organization of research groups and scientific publications (journals and events) that support research. As a result, the work: (i) shows the trajectory of the area of public administration in ANPAD since 1985 and research agenda for the field in last years, (ii) updated overview of higher education in the country of public administration mainly of graduate programs, and (iii) maps the conferences and journals in the field. Thus, the work itself constitutes a swing on progress, gaps and challenges of the field of knowledge of public administration at the national level.
public administration; Brazil; ANPAD; academic production; graduate
