Definition and purpose

The Regional Public Accounts System (RPA) is responsible for measuring and analyzing public revenues and expenditures at the regional level. The data are drawn from the financial statements of public entities (Public Administration – PA) and publicly controlled companies (extra-PA) that fall within the RPA’s scope of observation, namely the Extended Public Sector (EPS).

The accounts, produced on an annual basis, represent the actual amounts collected and spent within each regional territory considered. The complete historical time series has been available online since 2000.

The database is the System’s main output and results from the joint work of the Central Technical Unit and the Regional Units. The information is updated annually and undergoes detailed verification procedures based on more than 12,000 financial statements collected. The database has been part of the National Statistical System (SISTAN) since 2004.

The datasets produced and the methodologies adopted are published in open format, in line with the RPA System’s adherence to Open Government principles, with the aim of promoting transparency and citizens’ access to public information.

The database and its structure represent a significant added value for the country, serving a wide range of RPA stakeholders, including public policymakers, scholars, and citizens at large. The datasets are used in the planning, allocating, and management of public expenditure, in the preparation of studies and analyses on revenue and expenditure trends, including by geographic area and sector, as well as in supporting citizens’ participation in public policymaking from a transparency perspective.

Ultimately, knowledge precedes planning, and planning, in turn, precedes action. In a context of scarce resources, information — always essential — becomes crucial. This is precisely the purpose served by the Regional Public Accounts.

For a concise overview of the RPA System, an infographic is provided.