Analysis of Mexico's public policies via their efficiency and public spending

Abstract

In this paper, annual indices of social programs in Mexico from 2012-2018 are constructed using multivariate statistics, to identify the relationship between their efficiency and public spending. The following variables were considered: efficiency in coverage, approved budget, exercised budget, and rigor of the obtained results. A low annual coverage efficiency index was found in 2015 and a maximum in 2018. The annual approved budget index did not have a relevant increase from 2014 to 2015, even so it showed to be increasing through the years. The annual exercised budget index had a notable decrease in 2018. In addition, it was found that those programs with higher spending in the sample considered Seguro Popular and Pensión para Adultos Mayores —Popular Insurance and Pension for Older Adults— had outstanding results, and the Estancias Infantiles and Apoyo al Empleo programs —Children’s Stays and Employment Support— that received much lower budget, had outstanding results, i.e., they were efficient programs.