Abstract

Using data from 134 Chilean municipalities for the period 2016-2018, we analyze the degree of absenteeism at the local level. Building on the extant literature, we identify several key predictors of absenteeism in the public sector, which we put to the test using count analysis (negative binomial regression). Our findings show that public programs that seek to improve municipal management, as well as larger share of women as part of the workforce, reduce the levels of absenteeism. Surprisingly, we did not find statistical evidence regarding the impact of the municipality’s financial solvency, public servants’ degree of professionalization, the mayor’s gender, or whether it is an election year on the level of absenteeism.