Transparency of epidemiological and financial-budget information on the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian state governments

Abstract

This paper evaluates the levels of data and information transparency of state governments and the Federal District (DF) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Websites of the states and DF were prospected. A quantitative qualitative methodological instrument was developed for categorizing and collecting the information. The transparency of epidemiological and financial-budgetary information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed. Subsequently, it was verified whether socioeconomic and epidemiological variables can explain the transparency index of state governments, but the tests did not reveal causality between such variables and the transparency indexes. Contrary to what was expected, Brazilian states publish more information about pandemic data and data that helps managers’ decision making than financial-budgetary information. Thirteen of the states showed advanced transparency, and 13 moderate transparency and one, poor transparency. HDI and monthly income are the variables that explain the levels of transparency measured.

Keywords
data transparency; Brazil; state governments; COVID-19 pandemic; states’ websites