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What political factors drive fiscal behavior in Latin America's presidential democracies? This work seeks to identify the political determinants of the level of public spending and the primary balance of ten democratic regimes in Latin America between 1980 and 1998. We consider, besides the influence of traditional variables such as the government's ideological orientation and electoral cycle, the impact of other institutional and political aspects, such as the legislative strength of the president, ministerial stability, and the degree of centralization of budget institutions. Methodologically, the work is based on a pooled cross-section-time-series data analysis of 132 observations. Our main findings are that presidents supported by a strong party and leading a stable team of ministers - and ones more to the right on the political spectrum - had a negative impact on public spending and a positive effect on fiscal balance, and that the electoral cycle deteriorates the latter. (InWent/DÜI)

What political factors drive fiscal behavior in Latin America's presidential democracies? This work seeks to identify the political determinants of the level of public spending and the primary balance of ten democratic regimes in Latin America between 1980 and 1998. We consider, besides the influence of traditional variables such as the government's ideological orientation and electoral cycle, the impact of other institutional and political aspects, such as the legislative strength of the president, ministerial stability, and the degree of centralization of budget institutions. Methodologically, the work is based on a pooled cross-section-time-series data analysis of 132 observations. Our main findings are that presidents supported by a strong party and leading a stable team of ministers - and ones more to the right on the political spectrum - had a negative impact on public spending and a positive effect on fiscal balance, and that the electoral cycle deteriorates the latter. (Original abstract)

What political factors drive fiscal behavior in Latin America's presidential democracies? This work seeks to identify the political determinants of the level of public spending & the primary balance of ten democratic regimes in Latin America between 1980 & 1998. We consider, besides the influence of traditional variables such as the government's ideological orientation & electoral cycle, the impact of other institutional & political aspects, such as the legislative strength of the president, ministerial stability, & the degree of centralization of budget institutions. Methodologically, the work is based on a pooled cross-section -- time-series data analysis of 132 observations. Our main findings are that presidents supported by a strong party & leading a stable team of ministers -- & ones more to the right on the political spectrum -- had a negative impact on public spending & a positive effect on fiscal balance, & that the electoral cycle deteriorates the latter. 4 Tables, 64 References. Adapted from the source document.