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This paper is an analysis and reflection of the results of the project "State Capacities for a Post Pandemic Municipal Agenda", from the call Pisac Covid 19. Argentine Society in the Post Pandemic; promoted by the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development, and Innovation (Agencia I+D+i) of the Argentine Republic. The article is based on the advances and developments made by the research teams of the project and the progress made in some lines of work for the design of national public policies for LGs. This paper first presents the hypotheses and methodology of the research project. It then outlines the characteristics of the current situation of cities, their challenges, and capacities in a global context of accelerated and deepened transformations due to the pandemic and, in the following section, the main characteristics of local governments in Argentina. Subsequently, the results of the study are presented in relation to the different dimensions of the local governments studied and the profiles identified. Finally, models of local governments are proposed, resulting from the analysis and combination of the profiles previously identified, for the design of strategies to strengthen these capacities in the current context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provinces of Northwest Argentina have a series of competitive advantages for the development of the cannabis industry: abundant sunshine and low rainfall, agro-industrial production specialization, an associated private sector such as textiles and pharmaceutical laboratories, among others. This paper presents the productive advances and raises a series of management and articulation challenges for the provincial management firm Agrogenética Riojana to lead the emergence of the medical cannabis industry in the NOA. The conceptual approach combines elements from the literature on the entrepreneurial state, resources and capabilities and innovation systems. Through a case study, we contribute to document and discuss the advances and challenges faced by state-owned companies of the subnational level in Argentina, which are still little explored. The experience of La Rioja is relevant in this sense, given that it is currently the most expressive in terms of the number of state-owned companies at the provincial level in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, at the same time that the problems of women and diversity in relation to entry and permanence in the labor market have gained visibility, gender and diversity issues have occupied a relevant place on the public agenda. In this framework, this work aims to know and analyze the gender and diversity policies implemented in national public companies in Argentina. This is an exploratory and descriptive study where regulations, documents and public information on the development and implementation of policies aimed at reducing gender inequalities in national public companies were surveyed. Specifically, this paper presents a systematization of the surveyed actions, their link with current regulations and ministerial authorities, and the presence of heterogeneity of actions carried out in the different companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to analyze the forms that organizational hybridity assumes in subnational state-owned enterprises in Argentina --specifically, in those at the provincial level--; as well as the characteristics of the relations with the owner state and the national state, as a basis for the study of their interjurisdictional governance. The paper is based on a comparative analysis of four cases of provincial state-owned enterprise, using primary and secondary sources. Among other aspects, it is highlighted that the orientation of the companies analyzed includes a relevant presence of their public mission, although coexisting with varying degrees of commercial objectives. Likewise, the link with the owner state is mostly hierarchical, without ignoring different levels of managerial autonomy. Finally, the predominant relations with the national state are generally characterized by cooperation, usually in terms of the implementation of public policies, which reinforces the centrality of the companies' public mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the economic-financial performance of public enterprises under the Sindicatura General de Empresas Públicas (SIGEP), during the Argentine democratic transition (1983-1989). For this purpose, the performance often state-owned firms is examined in four indicators: sales revenues, prices and tariffs, real fixed investment, and level of internal and external indebtedness. The statistical analysis was carried out with secondary sources, based on the balance sheets and publications of the syndicate. In conclusion, two decouplings are observed in the indicators examined, which significantly eroded the financial capacities of the companies, continuing with the dynamics installed during the last civil-military dictatorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technologies have been part of local government for decades, albeit with different characteristics and scope depending on the case. This was particularly evident in the Covid-19 pandemic. This article asks about the characteristicsof digitization in force in Argentine local governments. and the divergent profiles that can be identified in this regard. It is oriented to the development of strategies to strengthen digitization. The source of information are the results of the project "State capacities in a post-pandemic municipal agenda", directed by Dr. Patricia Nari, The paper begins with the conceptual presentation of management digitization, then describes the most relevant elements of the work methodology, presents the results of the field work and finally describes the digitization profiles of local governments and discusses the theoretical and methodological model constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the framework of the PISAC COVID 19 project “State capacities in a post-pandemic local agenda”, this paper aims to present a status of the state of the capacities of argentine local governments prior to the pandemic. Specifically, it focuses on bureaucratic capacities, the so-called management capacities and those that we have provision capacities of public services that address the availability of services and the actors in charge of provision. Likewise, and based on the combination of the different state capacities analyzed, four typical profiles were built that cover different groups of municipalities. They could be a starting point for thinking about differential and specific lines of action for each type of local government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the most recent changes in Argentine federalism and the challenges that arise from the migration process from a dual model to a cooperative one. Specifically, it reflects on the political and institutional challenges for the formulation and implementation of public policies and the transformations in terms of articulation of these policies in heterogeneous contexts: large differences between different levels of regional development, and also in terms of political-ideological conception and policy orientation of the highest authorities of the executive in each of the levels of government. In order to analyze these challenges we work over the federal councils, considering them as an instrument that promotes public policy coordination between the national government and the provincial states. In this sense, we explore the transformations of the federal management of educational policy since it provides evidence to identify significant milestones in the process of transformation of the management arrangements of Argentine federalism and, on recent experience, how the consolidation of the Federal Education Council (FEC) contributes to improve the conditions of the joint cooperative model. The paper seeks to contribute to the debate on federalism and intergovernmental relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, the demand for child care policies has upraised in the public debate, understanding that this would have a positive impact on children well-being and on the employment possibilities of their mothers. Childcare policies are those that guarantee time, money and spaces for care, which implies the articulation between parental leaves policies, cash transfers programs and early child education and care services. With this, to solve the child care problem based on these policies programs results in a complex challenge of institutional coordination. This paper seeks to analyze the level of institutional coordination of child care policies in Argentina, and to identify the main difficulties in order to design a comprehensive strategy of childcare. For this purpose we create a model of analysis of the level of coordination among programs. Based on the analysis developed, we found that the childcare programs in the country present incipient and weak institutional coordination features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Public Companies in Argentina: Background, Critical Aspects, and Cases" addresses the importance and role of public companies in the economic and social development of Argentina. It mentions strategic sectors in which these companies intervene, such as energy, hydrocarbons, and urban infrastructure services. The article also highlights the changes and debates surrounding the role of public companies in Argentina, especially in relation to fiscal aspects. The special issue includes nine papers that address the history, management, and specific cases of public companies in Argentina. [Extracted from the article]

Intergovernmental coordination is a key factor to achieve a homogeneous implementation in national policies. However, the bibliography of coordination argues that the horizontal coordination (among jurisdictions of the same level of government) does not occur. On the contrary, this paper asks: Which factors produces that the subnational jurisdictions decide to act together to enforce a national environmental policy? Based on comparative analysis of the formulation process of the adequation laws to the National Forest Law in Argentina, I argue that the provinces act together when there are a regularized and legitim institutional frame available and a structures of incentives that produce that the locals politicians decide formulate and enforce an environmental policy in theirs jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the neoliberal period, the State reconfigured its way of acting in diverse spaces of the society. In that context, the enactment of the Decreto de Desregulación Económica 2284 de 1991 had a deep impact in the Argentinian rural sector. Because of that, we analyze the problematization process of the issue by different agents; the position took by the State materialized in the text of the Decree; and some reactions that it aroused, based in the classic contributions of Oszlak and O'Donnell. In this manner, we deepen our understanding of the strategies and forms of communication that are articulated in the process of adopting a public policy. In methodological terms, we reviewed the content of some discourses published in specialized newspapers between 1990 and 1991 and we apply discourse analysis techniques on the original Decree and two company's advertising. This paper concludes that even when a favorable position about agrarian deregulation had consensus between hegemonic agents, the intensity of the public policy transcended its expectations, empowering profound economic, social and political transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Investment Accounts of the Municipal Executive Department (MED) of Santa Fe, the paper analyzes the magnitude and sources of budgetary resources to implement housing and employment programs aimed to shantytown population. With this, the research seeks to account for the internal state capacities, particularly those related to the availability of financial resources. The document recovers theoretical contributions of spatial scale perspective to explore how actors from national (State) or global scale (international lending agencies) may condition political interventions of the MED. In this sense, even though more than half of their budgetary resources come from tax revenues operated by both federal and provincial states, the evidence show that the santafesinian MED could implement and fund housing and employment programs of their own conceptual design directed to attend the situation of the shantytown population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research will analyze the last two political- electoral reforms carried out and/or under discussion in Argentina: the first, promoted by the Kirchnerist government, sanctioned in 2009, and the second, promoted by the Macrist government, debated throughout 2016 and still under legislative treatment. In this paper, we propose a critical reading of both Political Reform projects, first setting forth the assessment that preceded each one, then reviewing the arguments that have supported each proposal. Subsequently, we will analyze in detail the content of both reforms, pointing out the concrete effects of the clauses (real in the first case and possible in the second), theoretically outlined or incorporated with each one. Thus, through the evaluation of the three elections celebrated since the enactment of the first law, we will consider that the objectives set forth with its enactment were not achieved. But, at the same time, there is no evidence -based on recent international experience- that the proposals included in the new project will lead to this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the achievements and challenges of the Program Argentina Trabaja, that aims to promote social inclusion through the creation of work cooperatives, to promote the Social Economy. Two neighborhoods of Buenos Aires are taken as case studies: Costa Esperanza and Achiras. It is used a plural articulated methodology analyzing data from a survey conducted in 15 districts of Buenos Aires and semi-structured interviews. The analysis shows the central problems of the recipients: job security, low incomes and weak health and social security coverage, a general feature of working conditions in the popular economy, which is more marked in these households. The cooperatives promoted by this social program have the potential to attend needs of residents and improve living conditions of households. For this it is essential to rethink the forms of protection in the popular economy and link the program to a development model focused on work, provision of public services and improving infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opening of the Materials Testing Laboratory of the Ministry of Public Works of Buenos Aires Province (LEMOP), first of its kind in Argentina, was preceded by the long journey of its future Director throughout the United States of North America in order to study the best practices of similar institutions to be applied in the local organization and facilities still in building process. According to current entrepreneurial benchmarking techniques, the experience was repeated two years later in anticipation of LEMOP reformulation as Materials Testing Laboratory and Technological Research (LEMIT), this time visiting Brazilian institutions well known because of their close interaction with productive sector. Present paper describes these initiatives absolutely innovative for the Argentinean environment, as well as the further adaptations of the learning achieved for better fulfill institutional mission and main objectives: turning research activity into a professional one, persuing excellence in human resources training and providing assistance to the national industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over a decade, social and political scientists stress the centrality of citizen security policies within the political dynamics of the province of Buenos Aires. In general, the literature emphasizes that the Buenos Aires police is an organization with a high capacity to become autonomous and carry out security policies according to their interests, often illegal and repressive. However, recent research has emphasized the dependence of the police operation of political and social terms. In this context, the aim of the paper is to analyze which actors have the ability to influence the formulation of security policies and how. The central hypothesis of this work consider that governors are the actors with capacities and interests to pursue a policy of security of left or right according to their plan of campaign, which responds to other factors which are not the alleged police interests: mainly the ideology of the national executive and the location of the median voter. The corroboration of this hypothesis instructs on the strategic game behind securities policies and the relative autonomy of the police and the penal system in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on public management concerning collective incidence environmental damages derived from oil spills and, based on a legal dogmatic vision, the objective is to identify the main weaknesses of the Argentine legal-institutional system in terms of restoration of those damages and to examine whether taxation on petroleum and its derivatives may constitute an appropriate measure to ensure the environmental restoration, defining the way to implement this measure in the Argentine Law. As a result, we propose two changes on the Tax on Liquid Fuels and Natural Gas of Argentina (chargeable event and tax burden) and complementary measures involving joint implementation of educational tools to make aware the population about ecological damages derived from oil spills and to report on the specific application of public funds to face them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze, through micro-simulations, the direct impact of completing the coverage of the current system of family allowances and increasing the amount of the program on social well-being. The results show that the proposal would reduce poverty up to 40 %, indigence up to 64 % and the income gap between the 10th and 1st decile up to 27 %. Moreover, the modification would reduce the relative probability of indigence of those who live in the north, belong to large families or live in single parent households headed by women with children, for whom this probability would be, after the modification simulated, lower than that of their complement. In the regional dimension, it stands out that the direct impact of the reform on poverty would be higher in Greater Buenos Aires, where the majority of the poor population is located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]