This paper examines the effects of fiscal, political, and administrative dimensions of Colombian decentralization on the performance of municipal governments in providing water supply and sewerage services between 2008 and 2019. It also assesses the influence of municipal size and geographic location on service provision. To address these questions, panel data models were estimated, applying the Hausman and Taylor estimator, which corrects for endogeneity and accounts for time-invariant regressors such as geographic characteristics. The findings reveal that national transfers, municipal tax collection and royalties have a positive effect on urban water supply coverage, while own-source revenues significantly contribute to rural water supply as well as urban and rural sewerage coverage. Political competition does not appear to be a relevant factor, whereas administrative capacity yields mixed results. Furthermore, urban areas in the Caribbean region and rural areas in the Andean region display relative lags in service provision. Proximity to large or medium-sized cities exerts a negative influence on coverage. These results, which are robust for small municipalities—representing 95% of the sample—underscore the differentiated effects of decentralization, with urban areas experiencing greater advances than rural ones. The study argues that policies aimed at closing these gaps require inter-municipal coordination and flexible provision schemes tailored to rural and lagging communities.
This paper analyzes the correlation between socioeconomic conditions, as represented through the Comprehensive Municipal Performance Index, and royalty revenues in the municipalities of the department of Choc & oacute; between 2012 and 2017. This period is covered by the General Royalties System, which was initially regulated by Law 1530 of 2012 (which was partially repealed by Law 2056 of 2020). Using an econometric model specified and estimated from a panel data structure, which also includes the Institutional Quality Index (ICI) as an explanatory variable, a positive association is initially inferred between royalty revenues and municipal performance in the municipalities of the department studied. However, when robustness tests were performed using a fixed effects model by municipality and year with robust standard errors, the relationship lost significance and changed sign. This suggests that the observed link is neither robust nor causal. Furthermore, there is no statistically significant relationship between institutional quality and municipal performance. Consequently, the findings indicate that the differences between municipalities are more a function of structural factors than the amount of resources transferred. Overall, the results highlight the importance of improving territorial institutions so that royalties translate into sustainable improvements in local well-being and more efficient public management in Choc & oacute;.
This paper examines the effects of fiscal, political, and administrative dimensions of Colombian decentralization on the performance of municipal governments in providing water supply and sewerage services between 2008 and 2019. It also assesses the influence of municipal size and geographic location on service provision. To address these questions, panel data models were estimated, applying the Hausman and Taylor estimator, which corrects for endogeneity and accounts for time-invariant regressors such as geographic characteristics. The findings reveal that national transfers, municipal tax collection and royalties have a positive effect on urban water supply coverage, while own-source revenues significantly contribute to rural water supply as well as urban and rural sewerage coverage. Political competition does not appear to be a relevant factor, whereas administrative capacity yields mixed results. Furthermore, urban areas in the Caribbean region and rural areas in the Andean region display relative lags in service provision. Proximity to large or medium-sized cities exerts a negative influence on coverage. These results, which are robust for small municipalities-representing 95% of the sample-underscore the differentiated effects of decentralization, with urban areas experiencing greater advances than rural ones. The study argues that policies aimed at closing these gaps require inter-municipal coordination and flexible provision schemes tailored to rural and lagging communities.
This study examines the influence of social media marketing (SMM) activities on the purchase intention of artisanal products in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Using a quantitative approach with 356 valid responses and Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), five dimensions were analyzed: entertainment, interaction, trend, personalization, and electronic word of mouth (eWOM). The theoretical framework is based on the Theory of Uses and Gratifications (TUG), which posits that consumers actively select social media content to fulfil particular needs. The results show that four of the five SMM activities significantly influence purchase intent. Electronic word of mouth emerges as the strongest predictor of purchase intention, followed by entertainment, personalization and interaction, although following trends did not show significant effect, suggesting that consumers of artisanal products prioritize authenticity and cultural value over ephemeral fashions. These findings indicate that digital marketing strategies should focus on fostering eWOM through entertaining, personalized content that generates genuine interaction, rather than chasing viral trends.
This article examines the factors influencing the adoption of Industry 4.0 technology among Colombian firms, assessing its impact on productivity and regional development. Using data from a multi-sector business survey, the study constructs three analytical dimensions: advanced technology adoption (A), technological capital investment (K), and human-capital and labor-process transformation (L). These constructs are operationalized through grouped proxy indicators and standardized using fixed thresholds consistent with measurement approaches employed in innovation and technological-capability research. A binary logit model is estimated to identify the probability of adopting advanced technologies as a function of organizational characteristics, digital infrastructure, automation intensity, and the incorporation of intelligent manufacturing tools. The findings reveal uneven adoption patterns, with significant gaps in AI, Big Data, and robotics, contrasted with higher penetration of basic digital tools. Results indicate that investments in technological capital and the modernization of human-capital processes are central determinants of technological upgrading. The study highlights critical implications for industrial policy, workforce development, and regional competitiveness in emerging economies.
