ABSTRACT
Public servants play an essential role in the functioning of the state. Public leaders, in particular, are central in translating political directions into public policies and are the link between high-level and street-level bureaucrats. Yet, a pressing question remains: to what extent does government information offers insights into the characteristics of agents who hold appointed positions and are responsible for conducting public affairs? This article seeks to answer this question by analyzing the legislation governing the administrative structures of the Brazilian states and their online transparency portals, verifying the feasibility of understanding aspects such as attributions, educational background, gender, and race of these bureaucrats. The results show limits to comprehending the profile of leaders at the subnational level, either within the state or in comparative analyses across governments. The article contributes to connecting theoretical discussions on transparency and workforce composition within the public sector.
Keywords:
transparency; subnational governments; bureaucrats; managers; public leadership