Transparency and Accountability in Mexico's Local Governments

Abstract

The process of democratic consolidation in Mexico has not resolved the issues of trust in
public institutions due to the lack of mechanisms to implement public policies related to
transparency and accountability. Municipal governments have struggled to meet transparency
and accountability obligations due to the heterogeneity in their demographic, economic,
cultural, and institutional composition. In the case of Sonora, most municipalities have faced
difficulties in fulfilling these basic information obligations on their portals and assuming
responsibility for the management of resources. The aim of this study is to explain the main
factors that have hindered the fulfillment of these transparency and accountability obligations
in the municipalities of the state of Sonora and to analyze the institutional instruments
involved. This research reveals findings on the relationship between transparency and
accountability policies and the municipal institutional design, and how the latter has
represented an obstacle for the efficient implementation of these policies in Sonora’s
municipalities.