Citizen perceptions of the reasonableness of public spending: A study based on water and sanitation services in Moquegua, Peru

Sucacahua D.B.; Liza D.Y.M.; Rivera-Muñoz J.L.; Marquez J.S.M. · Encuentros (Maracaibo) (2026) · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20940977

Resumen

From any perspective, it is possible to agree that the public policy oversi-ght system is based on principles of reasonableness, which, according to Marcelo Azar, are presented as four fundamental interdependent principles that guarantee the modern utility of a service. This study measures citizen perceptions of the need for these principles in the common culture. To this aim, we observed the influence of public spending on the provision of basic water and sanitation services in the Moquegua region of Peru. A quantitati-ve, applied approach with a descriptive-correlational design was used with a sample of 88 employees of the service provider. A validated questionnaire with high reliability was used (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.900 for public spending and 0.935 for access to basic services). The results show that 79.6% of respondents perceive public spending positively, but only in isolation, mea-ning that few citizens understand the principles of reasonableness that un-derlie spending. Consequently, the 75% who considered access to services adequate also failed to observe reasonableness. It is concluded that it is necessary to strengthen the sources of democratic culture regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of spending, in order to foster citizen responsi-bility and accountability for public spending.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional del Altiplano; Universidad Tecnológica del Perú