• The economic resources made available by the State to meet society’s needs. In any decision on public funding there is an opportunity cost that may affect the ability of the State to meet other needs, such as transportation infrastructure, water supply and sanitation, or health. The trade-offs implied may also have an important social component. In this context, the incorporation of equity issues into government agendas depends on the criteria under which financing decisions and public expense allocation are understood. It is also part of the processes of each society’s political decision-making procedure, which was analysed in Chapter 4. Coherent plans are needed with clearly identifiable benefits, especially those that affect the poorer segments of society. Mechanisms that ensure participation of these and representation of their interests are also critical for effective and equitable interventions. In practice, many times initiatives are developed as a response to critical situations that have a great deal of media attention, and consequentially, the press can play a very powerful role in determining the level of economic resources available for investment in public goods.