Capacity and Commitment: How Decentralization in Brazil Impacts Poverty and Inequality

44 Pages Posted: 1 Aug 2011 Last revised: 13 Aug 2014

See all articles by Sandra Chapman Osterkatz

Sandra Chapman Osterkatz

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

In the first decade after the transition to democracy, Brazil shifted from a highly centralized contributory health system that served only formal sector workers to a decentralized universal system in which subnational governments bore nearly full l responsibility for the provision of health services. This paper explores the changes that decentralization has created in the distributive nature of Brazil’s health system. I use comparative historical analysis to trace the development of Brazilian health policy along these four dimensions (decentralization, ideological commitment, and fiscal and administrative capacity) and explore their impact on the distributive nature of the health system in two subnational cases--Bahia and São Paulo. For health policies to be equity-enhancing—favoring the poor and traditionally disadvantaged societal groups—several conditions are necessary. An ideological commitment to equity must exist on the part of those responsible for health policy and the fiscal and administrative capacity to develop and execute equitable policies is also necessary. The depth and type of decentralization set the bounds of what is possible and commitment and capacity are determining factors for health policy and outcomes. Over the course of the democratic period, national commitment and capacity have increased. For Brazil, enhancing equity in health would require increasing the capacity of subnational governments and ensuring that political actors at all levels are committed to the national health system (SUS).

Suggested Citation

Chapman Osterkatz, Sandra, Capacity and Commitment: How Decentralization in Brazil Impacts Poverty and Inequality (2011). APSA 2011 Annual Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1903415

Sandra Chapman Osterkatz (Contact Author)

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill ( email )

102 Ridge Road
Chapel Hill, NC NC 27514
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
121
Abstract Views
731
Rank
417,019
PlumX Metrics