Performance Evaluation of Institutional Capacity Indices in Municipalities of the State of Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the performance of the Municipal Institutional Capacity diagnostic methodologies used in Mexico to determine which has the best theoretical, practical, and technical adjustment in municipalities of the federated state of Veracruz (periods of governance 2018-2021 and 2014-2017). For this research, a mixed, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational research design was employed. The Subnational Analysis method with municipal unit scale was used and content analysis techniques, structured observation, descriptive statistics, and correlation tests were applied. Findings suggest that the Municipal Institutional Development Index showed better overall performance compared to Municipal Functional Capacities Index and Municipal Performance Consultative Guide. The areas of opportunity that were identified in the methodologies include: maximizing the temporal stability and regularity of the measurements (in two cases); the complete contiguity of areas and maximizing the observations (in one case); and, in all three cases, improving the sensitivity of the techniques to the theoretical assumption, as well as strengthening the sustainability approach.