Más allá de reformas constitucionales, programas de estabilidad y planes de austeridad: capacidad de innovación en la gestión del gasto público

Since the wake of the 2008 crisis Spain has made considerable efforts to achieve fiscal consolidation. Numerous budget adjustments have been introduced, basically taking the form of stability programmes, austerity plans and changes in the constitution. But there are still serious difficulties in reducing the public sector deficit and debts. The current government has declared itself to be fully committed to the fiscal objectives set by the EU, but at the same time has requested a reconsideration of the rate of tax adjustment and has undertaken major structural reforms. However, some horizontal reforms with great direct influence on fiscal discipline, such as a reform of the public administration, do not even seem to be on the agenda for debate. There is an unspoken conviction that the solution lies in «less government and more business» and in applying competitive criteria in public-sector management, along the lines followed without much success since the 1990s. There is scarcely any debate on what sort of reform of the public administration is needed in times of crisis. This paper explores alternative ideas based on actual experiences in other countries, oriented towards improving capacity for co-operation and innovation in the management of public spending.