Evaluate to spend better: Monitoring, evaluation and efficiency of social spending in Latin America

The study analyzes the relationship between the efficiency of public social spending and public policy monitoring and evaluation systems in eleven Latin American countries. Social spending has increased in the region as a tool to reduce inequalities and improve the living conditions of the population. The research uses a quantitative and correlational approach to examine whether the functioning of monitoring and evaluation systems is associated with greater efficiency in public social spending. Three dimensions are analyzed: the institutionalization of the systems, the types of evaluations carried out, and the use of the results in decision-making. The results show that the institutionalization of the systems does not present a significant relationship with the efficiency of public social spending. On the other hand, the diversity of evaluations and the effective use of their results in decision-making appear to be the most relevant factors for improving the efficiency of public social spending in the countries analyzed.