translated from Spanish: Decentralization and infrastructure: a necessary discussion

This Sunday, in an unprecedented vote, the vast majority of the regions of our country will elect a regional governor in a second round. This is an important step towards chile’s long-awaited decentralization. But we must not forget other factors that affect this path. Without investment in infrastructure, it will be impossible for the country to move towards sustainable and inclusive territorial development. For this to happen, it is necessary that there is a strategic orientation of the dimensions to be prioritized and a territorial diagnosis that allows to guide the investment. On the contrary, when these decisions respond to political criteria, and lack a systematic orientation with regard to territorial development gaps at regional or local level, investment tends to be diluted in the territory.
Chile is keeping an eye on the matter. We lack not only a medium-term investment plan, but also intersectoral and territorial criteria that guide it strategically. Several studies have shown that flagship investment programs are conditioned by informal agreements between different levels of government and coalitions of political parties. In order to contribute to this discussion, recently a group of academics from the Catholic University, with the sponsorship of the UC Public Policy Center, we have published a study where we seek to correlate public investment in infrastructure in energy, roads and hydraulic works, with indicators that express the existing territorial gaps at the provincial level.
The results showed that, in general, there are no systematic criteria to guide investment. For example, multidimensional poverty has no correlation with investment, which can be a particular indicator of territorial gaps. In order for investment to be oriented towards territorial development, it is necessary to promote the development of Programming Agreements as a key instrument to promote multilevel coordination from a territorial approach, with multi-year contracts with defined objectives and in dialogue with the territories.
In the new scenario, with regional governors elected, and the possible approval of a National Land Management Policy, important challenges will arise in this area. It is a great time to review the criteria that guide infrastructure investment at the national level, particularly in matters relating to infrastructure financed and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Works.
It is essential to strengthen the discussion on decentralization not only in terms of democratic deepening, but also to generate inclusive and sustainable territorial development. To that end, the incorporation of medium- or long-term investment plans, incorporating indicators of infrastructure gaps, and focusing territorially, are key guidelines for moving towards greater development as a country.

The content of this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.

Original source in Spanish