Country Fact Sheet

Government at a GlanceLatin America and the Caribbean 2020

Government expenditures in Argentina are comparatively high

In 2018, Argentina had the highest government expenditure in the LAC region (38.9% of GDP) compared to a regional average of 31.2% and not far from OECD average of 40.3%. Compared with 2007, expenditures in Argentina increased by 9.4 percentage points, thereby making sure that government expenditures are well targeted is key for achieving inclusive growth.

Chapter 2: Public finance and economics

2.13. General government expenditures as a percentage of GDP, 2007 and 2018

Argentina scores best in the Index of Quality of Regulations Against undue Influence

The index measures the existence and reach of lobbying regulations, enforcing transparency of influence seeking and the regulation on conflicts of interest. With a score of 7.5 (0 being the lowest possible and 9 the highest) Argentina fares as the country with the most comprehensive set of regulations on these aspects compared to a LAC regional average of 4.08.

Chapter 9: Public sector integrity

9.4. Index Quality of Regulations Against Undue Influence (pilot), 2018

Argentina approved a complementary budget every year between 2010 and 2017

The reasons for the approval of complementary budgets have been diverse including changing economic forecasts and increased estimates of mandatory spending. Still, the recurrent approval of complementary budgets increases the burden on public finances and could be detrimental to their sustainability.

Chapter 5: Budgeting practices and procedures

5.11. Approval of complementary budgets, fiscal years 2010 through 20175.12. Main reason to approve complementary budget between 2014 and 2017, 2018

Argentina

Argentina

-5.2%

-10% 0%-8% +2%-6% -4% -2%

-2.9%

-4.3%

Fiscal balance (2018)% of GDP

How to read the figures:

Argentina

Country value in green (not representedif not available)

Average of OECD country values in blue

Range of LAC country values in grey

Public Finance and Economics

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook database

Values have been rounded. n.a. refers to

data not availableAverage of LAC country

values in purple

Government investment (2017)% of GDP

Government gross debt (2018)% of GDP

Argentina

20% 120%40% 140%60% 80% 100%

108.6%

64.7%

86.1%100%

0%

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook database

3.1%

0% 1% 2% 3% 4%

1.6%

n.a.Argentina

Source: IMF Government Finance Statistics database

Gender equality in public sector employment (2018)

60.2%

53.0%Argentina

40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

51.0%

Public Procurement

Government procurementexpenditures (2017)*

% of GDP

6.0%

2% 4% 6% 8% 10%

n.a.

Argentina

* See Notes Source: IMF Government Finance Statistics database

Support togreenpublic

procurement

A strategy/policyhas been developedat a central level

Some procuring entitieshave developedan internal strategy/policy

Support toSMEs

Support toinnovativegoods and

services

There has never beena strategy/policy in place

A strategy/policyhas been rescinded

Support towomen-owned

businesses

Support toresponsible

businessconducts

n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

8 4 9 0

28 10 0 0

12 1 7 0 5 1 14 0 3 2 15 0 5 2 13 0

24 8 2 0 22 8 5 0 6 1 24 0 18 8 9 0

Argentina

Source: OECD-IDB Survey on Public Procurement

Source: International Labour Organization ILOSTAT database

% of women

Public Employment

Strategic public procurement by objective (2018)

Public sector employmentas % of total employment (2018)

Source: International Labour Organization ILOSTAT database

21.1%

17.2%Argentina

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

11.9%

iREG: Composite indicator on stakeholder engagementin developing subordinate regulations (2019)

Source: OECD Indicators of Regulatory Policy and Governance for Latin America

0

1

2

3

4

1.61 1.63

0

1

2

3

4

2.11

Argentina

Methodology

Systematic adoption

Transparency

Oversight, quality control

Source: IMF Government Finance Statistics database. * See Notes

None

All

9%

33%

Some

Some25%

Most33%

Argentina

No

Yes

62%

38%

NoArgentina

Existence of participatory budgetingat the central/federal level

(2018)

Source: OECD/IDB Survey of Budget Practices and Procedures

The max. score for each category is 1, and the max. aggregate score

for the composite is 4

Regulatory Governance

Open Government Data

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

0.53 0.43

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

0.60

Argentina

Data availability

Data accessibility

Government supportfor data re-use

Budgeting Practices Human Resources Management

Source: IDB-OECD Open Government Data Survey

Proportion of vacancies that are publishedand open to external recruitment

(2018)

High Moderate None

64%29%7%

HighArgentina

Level of influence of theCentre of Government

over line ministries (2018)

Institutions

Source: OECD-IDB Survey on Organisation and Functions ofthe Centre of Government

Index of quality of regulationsagainst undue influence (2018)

Public Sector Integrity

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Public Integrity in Latin America

Composite index from 0 (worst) to 9 (best)

OURdata Index: Open, Useful, Reusable Government Data (2019)

Composite index from 0 (worst) to 1 (best)

Source: OECD/IDB Survey on Strategic Human Resources Management in Central/Federal Governments

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

97.50

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

94.08

Argentina

Lobbyingregulation

Transparencyof in�uenceseeking

Con�ict ofinterestregulation

Satisfaction and confidence across public services (2018)

49%Judicial system

Education system

55%Health care

63%57%

34%27%

National government34%26%

ArgentinaAverage

Range

Average

20

40

60

80

100

Source: Gallup World Poll

Notes

Argentina

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6Higher

inequality

Lowerinequality

Before After Before After

0.470.37taxes and transfers

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Before After

0.47

0.32taxes and transfers

Higherinequality

Lowerinequality 0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

n.a. n.a.

Five OECDmost unequal

OECDaverage

Gini coefficient: Differences in income inequality pre and post-tax and government transfers (2017)

For more information on the data (including full methodology and figure notes) and to consult all other Country Fact Sheets: http://www.oecd.org/gov/government-at-a-glance-lac.htm

LAC and OECD averages for Public finance and economics and Government procurement expenditures are weighted.

* Costs of goods and services financed by general government are not included in government procurement because they are not accounted separately in the IMF Government Finance Statistics (database).

Indicator from 0 (low income concentration) to 1 (high income concentration)

Rule of Law Index: Constraint to government powers(2019)

Source: World Justice Project Rule of Law Index

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

0.62 0.53

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

0.76

Argentina

Source: OECD Income Distribution database

Core Government Results

This third edition of Government at a Glance Latin America and the Caribbean provides the latest available evidence on public administrations and

their performance in the LAC region and compares it to OECD countries. This publication includes indicators on public finances and economics,

public employment, centres of government, regulatory governance, open government data, public sector integrity, public procurement and for the

first time core government results (e.g. trust, inequality reduction). Governance indicators are especially useful for monitoring and benchmarking

governments’ progress in their public sector reforms. Each indicator in the publication is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of graphs

and/or charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings of the data, and a

methodological section on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability.

Government at a Glance: Latin America and the Caribbean 2020

The Excel spreadsheets used to create the tables and figures in Government at a Glance: Latin America and the Caribbean 2020 are available via the StatLinks provided throughout the publication: https://doi.org/10.1787/13130fbb-en