Abstract

PINEDA PABLOS, Nicolás  and  BRISENO RAMIREZ, Hugo. ¿Por qué son mejores los organismos de agua de Baja California que los de Sonora? Instituciones locales y desempeño de los organismos públicos. Región y sociedad [online]. 2012, vol.24, n.spe3, pp.181-212. ISSN 2448-4849.

The purpose of this work is to compare the performance of urban water utilities in the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California and discuss the likely variables that explain the differences. These two states share similar geographic and demographic characteristics. Both are border states, have a semiarid climate, and their populations share the same culture and behaviors. However, judging by their indicators, the performance of water utilities in Baja California is better than in Sonora. This study explores the likely causes and examines the different institutional rules that might explain the differing performances: the government agency responsible for service, the duration in office of utility directors, service rates, billing and collection, as well as the alternation of political parties in local government and the political affiliation of the governments in charge of service. The study concludes that institutions matter, and institutional rules have made the difference in the performance of water utilities in these two Mexican states.

Keywords : urban water management; water utilities; performance; water supply and sanitation services; Baja California; Sonora; México.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )