This article examines the management of public organizations in Brazil, taking into account both the institutional approach and that of the economic sociology. It is a fact that the management of these organizations is affected by the actions of interest groups, especially in Brazil, which is characterized by patrimonial practices, among other things. This context forces those who work in the public sphere to constantly face the dilemma of collective action, summarized in the following question: Under such conditions, is it possible for the public organizations to act in the collective interest? To answer this question, which is related to the structure-agency debate, this work suggests two responses: One that emphasizes the agency, rationality and the formation of preferences; and another, structural, based on bureaucratic insulation and social inclusion. After such considerations, and for the purpose of illustrating the relevance of the two responses, the article discusses the case of the Bolsa Familia program (family grant), highlighting the contribution of Caixa Econômica Federal and the Municipalities for the success of the program. In the end, the authors present their conclusions and recommendations for future studies.
Bureaucracy; Social Inclusion; Public Organizations; Bolsa Família Program; Brazil