Primary results and the political electoral cycles of the Brazilian States (1987 to 2010)

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the impact of the Fiscal Responsibility Law (LRF, in Portuguese) on the state governors’ choices, having as parameters of analysis the electoral cycles and the fiscal results of the subnational units. The time frame of the research goes from 1987 to 2010. We will show that, before the institution of the FRL, the pattern of public spending had a certain dynamics, which was changed with the new fiscal control standards. However, the political electoral cycles survive despite the changes brought about by the LRF.