THE FINANCIAL AUTONOMY OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS: THE CASE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF GRAN CONCEPCION

Abstract

The Municipal financial autonomy refers to the ability of municipalities to manage their economic affairs independently and autonomously, without depending to a large extent on resources from higher levels of government. The research seeks to identify the factors of municipal financial autonomy and influence in the decision-making process in the municipalities of Gran Concepción from 2015 to 2020, this is done through a mixed methodology; where financial data is analyzed through SINIM, analysis of interviews with relevant stakeholders, analysis of municipal financing cases, and analysis of the current legal framework in terms of municipal financing. It is concluded that the factors that must be considered for municipal financial autonomy are: socioeconomic characteristics of the people who inhabit the commune, per capita income, the materiality of the houses, the vehicle fleet, local economy variables and the institutional legal framework. of autonomy. There is a direct relationship between the decision-making capacity, in the administration and collection of income and the administration of municipal resources and financial autonomy; in addition, determined factors influence the decision-making process.