The public authority helix: distribution patterns of federal resources to state Research Support Foundations

Abstract The goal of this study was to identify the pattern of distribution in the transfer of federal resources to state-run Research Support Foundations (RSFs), between 2004 and 2012, within the context of the implementation of the national Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy. The theoretical framework that guided the analysis of this STI policy was based on work by authors affiliated to the concept of neo-institutionalism. Since this study sought to identify any associations there might be between the variables, the correlation of Kendall-Tau was applied because the data did not meet the requirements of normality. A gap was noted between the pattern of resource transfers during the period analyzed and the long-term goals proposed by the policy, which were aimed at reducing regional inequalities and at promoting Brazil's development.