The economic and institutional relevance of innovation for the Dominican Republic in a broader regional perspective

This chapter assesses the economic and institutional landscape of the Dominican Republic in relation to the LAC region (Latin America and the Caribbean), in particular within the framework of the functions assumed by the state. The region faces several common public administration challenges such as the quality of the civil service, the regulatory framework, governance transparency, and greater centralisation than in OECD countries. The overarching analysis in this chapter is meant to facilitate the process of fully capturing and better understanding the nature and magnitude of the public sector reform tasks currently faced by LAC bureaucracies and the Dominican Republic in particular, as well as all their implications, in combination with citizens’ expectations and perceptions, and often limited available public resources. Attention is paid to the relevance of public sector innovation and its impacts, lessons learned, and policies for a more sustainable and innovative public administration in the LAC region.