Information brokers and the use of budgetary and financial information by politicians: the case of Portugal

Abstract

This paper analyses the intermediary role of the technical bodies that support the use of budgetary and financial information by central government politicians in Portugal. The main findings show that information brokers are playing a central role in preparing this information in a credible, simple and understandable way. However, even if not intentionally, the information they present can be biased. Politicians need to be aware that the information brokers they rely on may not be giving them ‘neutral’ information.

Keywords:

• Central government
• information brokers
• information needs
• politicians
• technical intermediaries

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted at Research Center in Political Science (UID/CPO/0758/2013), University of Minho and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susana Jorge

Susana Jorge is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra and a Researcher in the Research Centre in PoliticalScience, Portugal.

Maria Antónia Jorge de Jesus

Maria Antónia Jorge de Jesus is an Assistant Professor in the Instituto Universitário de Lisboa and a Researcher in the Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL), Portugal.

Sónia Nogueira

Sónia Nogueira is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Management, Communication and Tourism of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and a Researcher in the Research Centre in PoliticalScience, Portugal.