Pork Barrel in Brazil. The electoral effect of individual amendments to the budget

Abstract

The pork barrel politics in electoral systems with single-member districts and majority election are a phenomenon deeply discussed among comparative studies. Pork barrel politics are a phenomenon deeply studied in electoral systems with uninomial districts and majority elections. Nevertheless, in a country with large districts and open-list proportional elections, as Brazil, the phenomenon becomes more complex and less clear. The studies that investigated Brazilian experience have not identified clearly the electoral efficacy of funds sent by the deputies in the conquest of voters of the beneficiary regions. This article aims to verify if the budget amendments produces immediate electoral benefits for the deputy and if these resources are used in order to gain votes.