Social ministries and the Ministry of Finance: Confrontation, collaboration, and autonomy

In many countries, to handle the common pool problem of public budgeting the Ministry of Finance is given strategic power. Research has examined the effect of this power on government spending, deficit and policymaking. However, it treated all spending ministries as a unitary actor, ignoring differences between ministries (organizational, reputational, structural), which can affect how the Ministry of Finance uses its strategic power. This research aims at narrowing this gap. The research analyzes the relations between the Ministry of Finance and the social ministries (Welfare, Education, Health, and Immigrant Absorption) in Israel. It is based on various data, including interviews, budget data, and data from the parliamentary committees. Preliminary findings suggest that there are different types of relations; confrontation, collaboration, and autonomy. The difference is a function of the ministry’s power and reputation. The type of relations might change periodically if the Ministry of Finance or the social ministry decides to violate the informal rules on which the relations are based. These findings contribute to our understanding of the budget process of bureaucratic politics.