Local Development Policy Formulation and Implementation in Porto Alegre

Abstract

Municipalities have been expanding their activities in the formulation and implementation of local development public policies, an indicator of this proactivity is the creation of organizational structures specifically aimed at promoting this type of social change. In this context, the article intends to investigate these efforts, identifying the dynamics and structures that guide and permeate these policies. We examined the policy produced in Porto Alegre, capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil, through the Office of Innovation and Technology, an organization created to foster innovation and scientific and technological development, perceived as a source of development. We used data from formal documents and previous research. For the analysis, we designed a model from the endogenous development approach, delimiting categories: development perspective, endogeneity, governance mechanisms and policy fields. In general, the results indicated that although the policy revealed a multidimensional conception of development, the translation of these principles into action did not value the orientation in terms of endogeneity, especially in the dimensions of equity and sustainability: it is not clear the social returns derived from these efforts. These characteristics, combined with the prevalence of intermediate activities, allow us to question the potential in terms of the development of the implemented initiatives. Also, we identified the involvement of a plurality of actors, especially in the implementation of actions; although such participation is still poorly institutionalized.