This paper analyzes the effects of decentralization of authority and fiscal resources on processes and results of public policies. It seeks to trace the connections between electoral politics, bureaucracy, formulation and implementation of social policies in the sphere of states. It focuses on the political construction and renovation of state schools in Bahia over two terms (1999-2002 and 2003-2006). This paper concentrates on the impact of electoral and party politics over the allocation of investments in the Secretary of Education between the municipalities of the state, and also examines the role of appointments of senior positions in the sectorial bureaucracy in the construction of public policy. The analysis relies on a multimethod strategy, which combines multivariate statistical models and traditional techniques of case studies.
State government; elections; social spending; bureaucracy
