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In recent decades, the design of public policies has gathered diverse disciplines to propose new ways to build knowledge destined to heed society's needs and opportunities. In Latin America, the multicultural and pluriethnic character of the societies has supposed special interest to their design. The case studies allow to locate experiences and to build comparisons and detailed and complex readings of the phenomena present within the territories. Through the compared analysis of four experiences led by the National University of Colombia, with a social innovation approach, this paper describes the contrasts and nuances found in the interaction of local ecosystems of collaboration. Morin's complex thinking, and the social innovation approach are proposed to analyze the contributions of the academy in the scenario of peacebuilding, through the role of mediation in the interaction of local knowledge. This is fundamental for the consolidation of territorial communal processes, and to establishing potential recommendations for the multi-stakeholder design of public policies in the pos-accords scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of the State in Argentina in the last three decades, based on oil policies, in order to understand its different transformations. The 90s were characterized by an abrupt referential change in the role of the state but especially in the productive and regulatory capacity on hydrocarbons. Despite of the neoliberal paradigm crisis on the beginning of the new millennium, energy policies on hydrocarbons still maintained the previous referential sector strategies. From the analysis of documentary sources and quantitative data, this paper aims to demonstrate how oil policy remains managed by market forces despite the fact that 51 % of Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF) shares were purchased by the State. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governance reflects the transformation of relations between government and society, starting with the emergence of a more active role for civil society in public action by detaching it from traditional dependency from government. However, although governance as a concept has been used vigorously in the discursive strategies of the doctrines of New Public Management (NPM) in conjunction with discourses of innovation as a justifying purpose; it is also possible to trace discourses that can be grouped in a framework called Post-New Public Management (P-NGP) which proposes new conceptions about governance and innovation; Conceptions that articulate a shift in the ways of conceiving and understanding organizational forms, public management and the State itself in its interaction with society. This paper analyzes the changes in the concept of governance brought by the P-NGP, which implies taking as a starting point the governance descriptions of NPM discursive areas, and then contrasting these descriptions with references to the P-NGP. This implies a reflection on the reconstruction of the dynamics of public action that, from the approach of governance based on P-NGP discussion referents, propose new logics for the implementation of policies from public innovation, such as the emerging case of public and private organizational forms like crowdsourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests that the best way to evaluate and drive development policy is to understand the root causes that explain the political economy restrictions limiting the developmental effectiveness of multilateral and bilateral institutions. To mitigate the deleterious effects of collective action restrictions this paper recommends a twopronged interdependent strategy: an enhanced use of ex ante evaluation in all interventions and through a more intensive application of the paper trail approach; and changes of constitutional rules or macro-institutional conditions which determine the decisions made in all institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores why the type of complex financial regulation developed over recent decades may be a suboptimal response to the increasing complexity of the financial system. Examples from other disciplines illustrate how decision-making in a complex environment can benefit from simple rules of thumb or 'heuristics'. We perform a set of empirical experiments to assess the relative performance of simple versus complex rules in a financial setting. We find that simple metrics, such as the leverage ratio and market-based measures of capital, outperform more complex risk-weighted measures and multiple-indicator models in their capacity to predict bank failure. A consistent message from these experiments is that complexity of models or portfolios can generate robustness problems. We outline five policy lessons from these findings, covering both the design of financial regulation itself and possible measures aimed at reducing complexity of the financial system more directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we build an index to measure the extent to which displaced households can effectively realize their economic and social rights. Based on the results of the index, we conclude that during the reparations and resettlement process, a displaced household, on average, is able to exercise 60% of the rights associated with economic and social stability. This result is four points below the average level at which poor nearby households are able to exercise their rights. Using panel data on a group of households, our technical work illustrates that between 2007 and 2008, the ability of displaced households to exercise their rights deteriorated to the point where, in effect, 45% of the households saw a regression in their ability to exercise at least one right during this period. We also identified other factors threatening the sustainability of the socio-economic stabilization policy, and some recommendations are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we estimate a dynamic panel data model to determine the effect of various institutional factors on the performance of a sample of Colombian companies during the period 2002-2007. Our results indicate that the analysed companies are affected by these factors. Institutions associated with property rights and contract compliance have significant effects on the growth of the firms. On the other hand, financial development does not have a significant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the management of surges in capital inflows to Emerging Markets. It reviews the main policy tools, including fiscal and monetary policy, exchange rate policy, foreign exchange market intervention, domestic prudential regulation, and capital controls. A key conclusion is that, if the economy is operating near potential, if the level of reserves is adequate, if the exchange rate is not undervalued, and if the lows are likely to be transitory, then use of capital controls --in addition to both prudential and macroeconomic policy-- is justified as part of the policy toolkit to manage inflows. Evidence from the current crisis suggests that controls aimed at achieving a less risky external liability structure reduced financial fragilities and increased growth resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of the convergence process in the development of the telecommunication sector and evaluates its impact on market structure and policy in Telecommunication and Information Technologies (ICT), in order to identify sensitive regulatory issues and some aspects that have not yet been discussed in depth. Regulatory models have responded to the challenges raised by the market and technological development, but models that can anticipate innovations are still required. Thus, the need arises for a new generation of regulation that can generate synergies to harmonize the regulations that govern the sector's industries, and to assess the impact of policies on social, economic and cultural rights associated with the ubiquity of networks and information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a critical analysis of the arguments against the public pensions system. It shows that the defense of the fully funded system based on its solvency and its ability to automatically cope with the processes of aging society are mere fallacies. In fact, it can be shown that the pay-as-you-go and fully funded systems are equivalent, facing the same problems in the long term. Finally, projections of conventional indicators show that the cries of alarm of Fedesarrollo and BBVA have no solid foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy evaluation is, in a general sense, a function of techniques and methods upon which to assess the objectives, efficiency and impact of public action. This paper identifies a new dimension, notably politics, which provides improved social results despite the fact that it remains hidden, rather than emerging as a key asset for improved governmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the implementation of the decentralization policy (empowerment of local authority) from the 1991 Constitution to 2002. It does so through the analysis of executive regulatory activity as well as congressional legislation (some fifty legal texts) and twenty two decisions of the High Courts, all of which deal substantive questions on decentralization and/or the autonomy of the territorial governments. Analysis of these decisions allows us, directly and indirectly, to interpret the challenges of territorialization of public policy action as well as changes in belief systems (referentiel). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinction between "evaluation" and "analysis" within "EPPPAL: an endogenous model for public policy originating in, and directed toward Latin America", is a crucial issue because it gives balance, complements and questions the generous Anglo-Saxon (English) proposal and the friendly French offer on how to make policy public in Latin America. This paper begins with a brief description of the difference between public policy "Analysis" and "Evaluation". The first part presents the evolution of evaluation literature, its functions, conceptual references, typology, and models. q-he second section presents an analysis of its components, its basic assumptions, characteristics, emphases and tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to illustrate different approaches to collective action and their relation with particular types of public policy. We analyze the impact of econonomics and non-economics collective action driven perspectives on public policy theory. The former perspective is conducive to a rational approach to policy. However, as reciprocity enters into collective action reasoning, then public policy becomes interested in understanding behavioural change in terms of such relations. Finally, we conclude on the relevance of collective action for the study of public policy and highlight the circumstances that may foster such analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain benefits from capital globalization, it is necessary for the domestic financial market to be well-developed and regulated. This paper analyzes the effect of capital globalization on the financial system from an institutional perspective. Institutional change is produced by the market and the government and non-government agreements introduced by the financial integration. The empiric evidence suggests that capital globalization has a positive relationship with the institutional development of the financial system, because it reinforces private property rights and reduces monopolist financial markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, Gonzalo Cataño examines the ideas on the State defended by the notable thinker and Colombian socialist leader: Gerardo Molina. The article presents a brief biography, followed by a study of his ideas concerning the functions of the State. Although a critical tone predominates all way through the article, it must be remembered that the limitations of an intelligent analyst of the public subjects are always more instructive than the correct considerations of a trivial expositor of the policy. The paper defines Provident State -- also known as Welfare State or Supportive State-- as a State that guarantees minimum standards of income, health, food, housing, education and labor, as political rights, not charity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently a new approach to political economy has been consolidated. The political analysis of transaction costs is an attempt to solve some of the problems which arise in economic theories of public policy. This paper deals with the notions of transaction costs, institutional efficiency, governance structures and commitment value; and defines political interchange as political contracts. Political transactions have high transaction costs and the efficiency of the "political market" requires a democratic system with institutions that favour reasoned decisions and prevents democratic delegation from becoming abdication. This article surveys literature with a transaction cost perspective and shows that it has been very useful for the theoretical explanation of the role of political agents and the evolution of rules that guide their interaction. The main challenge is to provide empirical evidence to the theoretical proposals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]