Author: PanoramaBrasil

Source: DCI, 03/02/2009

SÃO PAULO - Brazil came in 8th place among the countries with the greatest transparency in the public budget in the world. The ranking formed by 85 countries was analyzed by an NGO based in Washington. According to the study, prepared by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), 80% of the world's governments do not provide adequate information to the population about their spending.

As assessed by the IBP, which monitors and promotes governmental transparency, almost 50% of the 85 countries analyzed provide distorted and small information.

The survey relies on data collected until September 2007 and examined the inspection and auditing instruments of each country to assess the degree of transparency of the budgets presented by governments and the mechanisms for accessing information on public spending.

The study also highlighted that more than half of the countries come to gather information that would allow a more effective understanding and monitoring of the public in the planning and application of the budget - but that information is not disclosed.

Brazil belongs to the group of countries that “provide substantial information” and “grant citizens some tools to monitor and hold government accountable with public money”.

According to the IBP document, in Brazil, however, it is “somewhat difficult to monitor spending, tax collection and loans during the fiscal year”.

"Brazil publishes a very comprehensive annual report on its spending, but it does not release a semi-annual report", says the NGO in a note. "This could go a long way in strengthening public monitoring of budget implementation."

Among the emerging countries, Brazil is only behind South Africa, which was in second place in the general ranking.

Brazil was in 8th place among the countries with the greatest transparency in the public budget in the world. The ranking formed by 85 countries was analyzed by an NGO based in Washington