This project centred on a two day workshop, part funded by Revenue Watch Institute, which explored the research and policy implications of the new “paradox of plenty” in Latin America. The research question was whether windfall revenues have improved the state’s ability to produce sustainable and equitable budget allocations. The first part of the workshop focused on the impact of natural resources on the formation of budget coalitions. From this perspective, the budget process is a critical policy arena where national and sub national political actors (government and opposition, elected and otherwise) bargain over spending allocations. The workshop then explored how the new budget coalitions have shaped the quality of spending in several Latin American countries. Finally, the workshop looked at citizen-led initiatives to improve a country-based monitoring of extractive industries and government spending at the sub national level.
Further details on the workshop, including presentations and a short final report, are available on the Development Research Centre for the Future State website.