Moisés Wladimir Henríquez-Moreira, Ariana Yomira Zamora-Párraga, Darwin Javier Zamora Mayorga
Participatory budgeting is presented as a tool for democratic governance that promotes citizen participation, transparency, and the equitable distribution of public resources through dialogue and consensus. The main objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between participatory budgeting and the management of the Decentralized Municipal Autonomous Government of the Ventanas canton during the year 2024, with two specific objectives: to determine how it strengthens local governance and to identify its impact on the canton's socioeconomic development. The methodology used was descriptive-explanatory with a qualitative approach, allowing for the characterization of the phases and actors involved in the process, as well as the examination of factors that influence its implementation. Documentary analysis of regulatory and bibliographic sources was used, along with interviews with officials from the GAD's Finance, Administration, and Planning departments, as well as with citizens, to learn about their perceptions and experiences. The participatory budget was developed in five phases: organization and dissemination, training, working groups, preparation and approval, and monitoring. Financial indicators revealed high efficiency in revenue (98%) and expenditure (97%), as well as a reduction in financial dependence. However, problems of socioeconomic disconnect and political prioritization were identified that limit the social impact of participatory budgeting, underscoring the need to strengthen planning and citizen participation.
Ana Fabiola Zamora Vázquez, Francisco Xavier Ávila-Cárdenas, María Caridad Rojas Valdivieso, Juan Bautista Solís Muñoz
This study analyzed the production and commercialization of toquilla straw hats in the Nazón parish, with the objective of assessing the feasibility of establishing an association of toquilla straw weavers in the area, evaluating its potential benefits, challenges, and the applicable legal framework. It was identified that this activity constitutes one of the main sources of income for approximately 25 to 30 families, and represents a key component of the community’s intangible cultural heritage. However, it was found that most weavers sell their products at low prices (less than $10 per hat), mainly due to the involvement of intermediaries and limited access to more profitable markets. Furthermore, 70.6% of the artisans have not received any formal training, which restricts their ability to innovate and improve the marketing of their products. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. Surveys were administered to 17 out of 20 selected women, who expressed interest in joining a formal association. Data collection was primarily based on first-hand sources, including the testimony of the President of the Rural Parish Decentralized Autonomous Government of Nazón, and was complemented by secondary information regarding relevant regulations and prior studies. Among the most relevant findings was the low participation of young people in this artisanal activity, which poses a threat to its generational continuity. Notably, 100% of the respondents indicated their willingness to be part of a formal organization. The study concludes that the formalization of a weavers’ association, accompanied by training processes, access to technology, and digital marketing strategies, represents a viable solution to ensure both the economic and cultural sustainability of this traditional craft.
Nancy Deidamia Silva Álvarez, Dailín Peña Suárez, Galo Renato Navas Espín, María de los Ángeles Erazo Criollo
The work presents the repercussions of the new investments in the production of artisanal chocolate of the Association las Delicias del Triunfo, an investment sponsored by the Provincial Decentralized Autonomous Government of Pastaza, which consisted of new machinery for the processing and elaboration of chocolate. The modality of the research was mixed, applying the inductive and deductive methods to know the existing problem. In addition, the field research technique was used to coexist with the object of study and to detail each of its needs. The results were framed in denoting organizational and productive strengthening of the factory, the generation of employment and quality of life of its members and the community in general.
E. Pozo, José Vegas Pozo, Amanda Elizabeth Bonilla-Bonilla, Javier Toribio Jiménez
The Decentralized Autonomous Municipal Government of the Francisco de Orellana canton is made up of the following rural parishes: Alejandro Labaka, Armenia, Dayuma, El Dorado, El Edén, García Moreno, Guayusa, Inés Arango, La Belleza, Nuevo Paraiso, Taracoa and the Urban Parish of El Coca. The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador (2008) establishes the rights of nature and protects the biodiversity of the Amazon ecosystem. This is complemented by the provisions of the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy and Decentralization (2010), the Organic Code of the Environment (2017) and also the Organic Law for the Integrated Planning of the Special Amazon Territorial District (2018). This article reviewed compliance with municipal agro-environmental legislation in the Decentralized Municipal Autonomous Government of the Francisco de Orellana canton. This analysis was based on the publication of the Organic Law for the Integrated Planning of the Special Territorial District of the Amazon in the Official Registry Supplement 245, dated May 21, 2018. A qualitative methodology was used. Data were collected through analysis of public policies, regulations, legislation and ordinances, and interviews with the main actors of the Decentralized Municipal Autonomous Government. The results suggested that the Municipal Government seeks to protect the biodiversity of the Amazon ecosystem by adopting sustainable development and conservation policies, but it is clear that ordinances are needed for agro-environmental education, garbage classification, recycling, organic gardens, and greater integration into municipal agro-environmental projects. Keywords: agriculture, Amazon, environment, biodiversity, municipal, Ecuador. Resumen El Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipal del cantón Francisco de Orellana está integrado por las Parroquias Rurales: Alejandro Labaka, Armenia, Dayuma, El Dorado, El Edén, García Moreno, Guayusa, Inés Arango, La Belleza, Nuevo Paraiso, Taracoa y la Parroquia Urbana de El Coca. La Constitución de la República del Ecuador (2008), establece los derechos de la naturaleza y protege la biodiversidad del ecosistema amazónico, esto se complementa con lo establecido en el Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial Autonomía y Descentralización (2010), el Código Orgánico del Ambiente (2017) y ademas la Ley Orgánica para la Planificación Integral de la Circunscripción Territorial Especial Amazónica (2018). Este artículo revisa el cumplimiento de la legislación agroambiental municipal en el Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipal del cantón Francisco de Orellana, este análisis se realiza a partir de la publicación de la Ley Orgánica para la Planificación Integral de la Circunscripción Territorial Especial Amazónica en el Registro Oficial Suplemento 245, de fecha 21 de mayo del 2018. La metodología utilizada se basó en un análisis cualitativo usando técnicas y herramientas como la obtención de datos, análisis de las políticas públicas, normativa, legislación, ordenanzas y entrevista con los principales actores del Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipal del cantón Francisco de Orellana. Los principales resultados sugieren que el Gobierno Municipal busque precautelar la biodiversidad del ecosistema amazónico, adoptando políticas de desarrollo sostenible y de conservación, pero es evidente que son necesarias ordenanzas encaminadas a la educación agroambiental, clasificación de la basura, reciclaje, huertos orgánicos, y una mayor integración en proyectos agroambientales municipales. Palabras clave: agricultura, Amazonía, ambiente, biodiversidad, municipal, Ecuador.
The article presents the reasons that pushed the government of Venezuela to create the first state-owned cryptocurrency Petro, as well as the context of its introduction and principals of functioning. Unlike other cryptocurrencies Petro is an asset backed by the country’s natural reserves. The author offers to consider it as a token that allows transactions with real money and gives an investor a right to exchange it into the national currency according to Venezuela’s oil quotations. Due to its ICO (initial coin offering) the government managed to attract significant financial resources. Petro already functions as a national payment system and is traded at 8 local exchanges. Although not all aims set by the government have been achieved, the cryptocurrency strengthened the monetary system during the economic crisis and helped to alleviate the influence of American sanctions. In the future it is possible that Petro will be more fully integrated into the country’s financial system or will be rejected as a temporary mechanism. The article’s methodology is based on such general scientific methods as analysis, synthesis, comparison as well as on specific ones: calculation of economic indicators, graphic method and content analysis.
The article focuses on ways to assess the origin and development of the first national currency in the world which was introduced into circulation in Venezuela in 2018.Besides, it sets the goal to find out specific features of Petro (PTR) and its operation as Venezuelan national cryptocurrency.The methodological basis consists of general scientific methods of cognition to include analysis, synthesis, and comparison.The special methods such as content analysis of official documents as well as economic analysis are also applied in the article.The research produced some key findings: recent surveys confirm its new function of becoming a convenient means of payment in the environment of the cash absence, and a means of survival for many families living in the environment of a deepening economic crisis and sanctions introduce by the USA.The main outcomes imply that the national cryptocurrency PRT has some advantages over other cryptocurrencies, one of them being the fact that unlike Bitcoin and other currencies it is issued by the Venezuelan government and has a state guarantee of reliability and stability when operating in the country.However, it is not without disadvantages, the main one being the possibility of its anonymous usage which has resulted in an increased flow of illegal transactions and a larger shadow economy which has grown significantly in Venezuela.The main conclusions drawn from the research are that the introduction of the national cryptocurrency had produced a positive impact on the economic development of the country.In fact, it resulted in an increase in the number of financial transactions within the country; it led to additional opportunities concerning exchanges with other countries and international financing of Venezuela by third parties; the cryptocurrency contributed to the integration of Venezuela into a new type of the world market.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the equity and fairness of the Mexican health system reform that occurred in the late 1990's. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Mexican reform process was evaluated using the benchmark-system designed by Daniels et al. This benchmark system was adapted to the Mexican setting by adding specific indicators. A documentary review of the Mexican reform process was conducted to score its performance for each benchmark. RESULTS: Except for housing and nutrition components, the reform included few actions related to health determinants. For health care, the main reform initiatives were those related to extending the coverage of essential health services and decentralizing health care provision to the states. Reform initiatives included few activities related to fair financing, tiering, emphasis on second and third level care, accountability, and transparency. CONCLUSIONS: The late nineties reform of the Mexican health system had some positive effect on access of the poor to health care and administrative efficiency, but little impact on fair financing, quality of care, and democratic governance. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.
Many people think changes are always good. However, sometimes it is not so. Before making a change, one must ask what kind of change is it and how it will affect status quo. This paper tries to show how an institutional change that has been wrongly conceived could lead to a worse situation. The Venezuelan experience studied here is a ?show-window? of contradictory decentralization process, in which sub-national governments lack the faculties to generate their own income, and moreover, in which oil income continues to be almost the only source of governmental financing.
The decentralization of state competency began with the use of the resource established in article 137 of the National Constitution of Venezuela, where the Congress of the Republic approved in 1989 the Organic Law of Decentralization as a strategy of the Venezuela state to propitiate political administrative, and management changes. This law opened the possibility for states to assume a number of areas of competence aimed at the development of the regions in as self-sustaining entities. This paper develops an analysis in reference to the determination of the reach of those policies of state decentralization in the area of higher education, and especially in the area of research in the university sector. There are decisions which refer to incidents in the politics of state decentralization at the regional level in financing priorities and pertinence of the scientific activity in the sector where it intervenes, as to its relationship with the social and productive surroundings, to the weaknesses and fortitudes of the universities in attending the increasing demands of the region, in the inherent aspects to their fundamental programs, and in other aspects that have appeared in the process of regional development management and decentralization.
espanolEn ausencia de un margen significativo para la descentralizacion plena de los principales tributos en Venezuela, la consecucion de los beneficios esperados de la descentralizacion amerita discutir que tipo de diseno institucional deben tener sus mecanismos de financiamiento. En mi entender, el reto fundamental para los responsables de ese diseno consiste en incorporar en esos mecanismos los incentivos apropiados para que los distintos actores coordinen sus acciones y promuevan la participacion de la sociedad civil en la toma de decisiones colectivas. Esto exige desarrollar una cultura intergubernamental cooperativa. La viabilidad de una cultura intergubernamental cooperativa solo sera sostenible cuando se internalice la nocion de que los recursos generados por los tributos de administracion centralizada no pertenecen exclusivamente al gobierno nacional, sino que deben ser derramados en toda la extension del territorio venezolano, de acuerdo con una mezcla de criterios redistributivos, de eficiencia asignativa y respetando el desarrollo socioeconomico balanceado. Esto es mas probable si prevalece la perspectiva de que figuras como el situado, las asignaciones economicas especiales y el Fides representan mecanismos de coparticipacion en los ingresos fiscales del pais y no simples transferencias desde el gobieno central. Asi, al interpretar los mecanismos intergubernamentales de financiamiento como modalidades de coparticipacion sobre unos recursos fiscales generados en todo el territorio, las relaciones intergubernamentales se hacen mas horizontales, aun cuando se siga reconociendo al gobierno central como un primu inter pares. EnglishGiven the fact that there is not a significant margin for full decentralization of the main taxes in Venezuela, achieving the expected benefits of decentralization requires to discuss what kind of institutional design should have its financing mechanisms. In my view, the fundamental challenge for the policy-makers is to built-in these mechanisms with the appropriate incentives for different levels of government coordination and civil society participation in the process of collective decisions making. This requirement implies to develop an intergovernmental cooperative culture. The viability of an intergovernmental cooperative culture will be sustainable to the extent the venezuelan society internalize the notion that central administered taxes do not belong exclusively to the national government. On the contrary, these resources must be spread through the whole national territory, according to a blend of redistributive, assignative and economic equilibrium criteria. This is more likely if there is a prevalent perspective that policy instruments such as the situado, the special economic assignments and Fides represent revenue-sharing mechanisms, and not just transfers from the central government. In such a way, interpreting the ingovernmental financial mechanisms as co-sharing devises over the fiscal resources produced in the whole territory, the intergovernmental relations become more horizontal, although we recognize the central government as a primu inter pares.