In June 2003, the Budget Office of the Ministry of Finance of Chile requested the OECD to carry out a review of the Chilean budgeting system in a similar fashion as it does for its member countries. The OECD responded positively to this request, recognising that Chile is an established observer...

This article examines key institutional drivers that may contribute to improving public sector efficiency and focuses on one of them in more detail: performance information and its role and use in the budget process (“performance budgeting”).

Based on the results of the OECD 2005 questionnaire on performance information, this article provides an overview of the development and use of performance measures and evaluations in the budget process across OECD countries. This trend is both widespread and long-term. However, questions remain...

This article provides a snapshot of the status of budgetary institutions, procedures and practices in Latin American countries based on the results of the OECD 2006 budget survey. Particular elements include: the legal framework and role of the legislature; fiscal rules; medium-term expenditure...

This article concentrates on attempts by OECD countries to introduce performance-based or results-based budgeting and management. The need to enhance public sector performance has become more urgent as governments face mounting demands on public expenditure, calls for higher quality services...

Norway is a prosperous country with a healthy economy and a very high standard of living. Norway provides a truly unique example of long-term budgetary planning through its successful management of oil assets by means of the Government Pension Fund – Global. This article examines the annual...

The Portuguese government has recently undertaken comprehensive structural reforms of the public sector and has successfully reduced its budget deficit. This article explores particular features of the Portuguese budget system and the proposed further reforms, including the adoption of a...

En juin 2003, la direction du budget du ministère chilien des finances a demandé à l’OCDE de procéder à un examen de la procédure budgétaire du Chili, selon des modalités analogues à celles qui s’appliquent aux pays membres. L’OCDE a satisfait à cette requête, parce que le Chili...

This article examines attempts during 1993–1999 to reform the U.S. Department of Transportation to hold it accountable for achieving improved program results through performance measures. These attempts affected the department's relationships with Congress and the states. The political...