This Discussion Paper presents an introductory approach to presidential governance in Brazil. The historical institutionalism framework, the comparative historical method, and the policy-focused political analysis are used in this approach which consists in highlighting the critical component of...

Ministries are government structures that are located at the intersection between cycles of public policies, political party relations and the organizational design of direct public administration. Despite their relevance, the trajectory of the ministries over time is poorly understood, with an...

This working paper investigates the Marshall Plan from an unprecedented angle: that of strategy formulation, policy design, and the coordination of policy implementation. Through an in-depth case study, the Marshall Plan proves to be a far-reaching experience that still brings to light chronic...

This working paper discusses how decision support can contribute to the formulation of public policies to achieve greater consistency and coherence. If decision support fulfills its role, it is assumed that this favors the design of more efficient and effective government programs. In order to...

The ex ante analysis aims, among other aspects, to formulate public policies and design government programs that are born ready to be monitored and evaluated. Evidence-based policies and programs may be improved only if each step taken by public action leaves some traces for the monitoring of...

When governments launch policies or programs without any prior analysis, with unclear objectives, undefined or unjustifiable public selection, poorly conceptualized interventions, fragmented and often contradictory actions, without indicators and targets, and with insufficient inputs (small and...

An intervention project is a proposal structured to intervene on a relevant public policy problem to offer a very specific and prototyped solution, based on a model. The project is aimed at the decision support of an organization with governance over the referred problem. The core of an...

The common sense remarks that Brazilian public service has a chronic oversize, a characteristic of a patronage and entrenched patrimonialism and partisanship. This paper shows evidences that refute this common sense. In addition, the paper offers recommendations and proposals to overcome this...

This Discussion Paper presents an introductory approach to presidential governance in Brazil. The historical institutionalism framework, the comparative historical method, and the policy-focused political analysis are used in this approach which consists in highlighting the critical component of...

This paper analyzes the proposals under discussion in the Brazilian Congress concerning the direct elections for Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur), originally planned to be held on 2014. The proposed rules are investigated in order to find out which changes may impact the profile of the new...