Expansión del sector público empresarial en las autonomías y ayuntamientos : evolución y análisis de las posibles causas

Abstract

Uno de los hechos destacables en la evolución de las comunidades autónomas y los municipios españoles en la última década es el fuerte crecimiento que ha experimentado el número de empresas públicas creadas. Un crecimiento que contrasta claramente con el proceso de reducción que ha seguido el sector público empresarial del Estado, a través de las privatizaciones y la liquidación de empresas que anteriormente eran públicas. El texto expondrá los datos que reflejan este hecho y propondrá un conjunto de causas o razones que pueden justificar este hecho desde la óptica de las administraciones autonómicas y municipales. Entre dichas causas figuran la posibilidad de que a través de tales empresas pueda incrementarse el endeudamiento de las respectivas administraciones, o el desarrollo de "INIs" regionales como consecuencia de la absorción de empresas con problemas o bien la creación de otras que se consideraron de especial interés para la región o municipio. Abstract: One of the most remarkable facts in the recent evolution of the Spanish economy is the high growth of public firms created by regional governments and local administrations. This growth clearly contrasts with the reduction of the public sector size obtained during the same period by the central government through privatisations. This paper display data about the current number of public corporations showing this evolution and propose some reasons that could explain this development. Among the possible theoretical explanations is the ability to increase the indebtedness level of public administrations avoiding legal limitations and the development of functions by regional governments that traditionally were assumed by the old public group INI, as the absorption of private firms with losses or the creation of public groups for regional and local industrialization.

One of the most remarkable facts in the recent evolution of the Spanish economy is the high growth of public firms created by regional governments and local administrations. This growth clearly contrasts with the reduction of the public sector size obtained during the same period by the central government through privatisations. This paper display data about the current number of public corporations showing this evolution and propose some reasons that could explain this development. Among the possible theoretical explanations is the ability to increase the indebtedness level of public administrations avoiding legal limitations and the development of functions by regional governments that traditionally were assumed by the old public group INI, as the absorption of private firms with losses or the creation of public groups for regional and local industrialization.