Best Research Article Award
María Dolores Guillamón
University of Murcia, Spain
María Dolores Guillamón is a Spanish academic researcher in the field of Financial Economics and Accounting at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Murcia. Her scholarly work has focused on transparency, public financial management, local government accountability, public indebtedness, electoral cycles, corruption, sustainability, and public-sector governance. Through extensive contributions to international journals and collaborative research projects, Guillamón has developed a significant academic profile within public sector accounting and municipal financial management studies.[1][2] University of Murcia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Department of Financial Economics and Accounting, Spain. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Public Sector Accounting Research (IPSAR), University of Edinburgh Business School. Her academic achievements include two recognized six-year research periods (Sexenios), three recognized teaching periods (Quinquenios), accreditation as University Lecturer by ANECA in 2016, and accreditation as Full Professor by ANECA in 2024.[3]
Abstract
This article evaluates the academic profile and research achievements of María Dolores Guillamón in the context of recognition for a Best Research Article Award. Her research portfolio spans public sector accounting, municipal financial management, transparency, governance, public debt, electoral cycles, and sustainability. With substantial scholarly impact demonstrated through Google Scholar and Scopus metrics, numerous peer-reviewed publications, doctoral supervision activities, funded research participation, and editorial board memberships, her contributions have influenced international discussions on public accountability and financial transparency.[1][4]
Keywords
Accounting; Financial Economics; Local Governments; Transparency; Electoral Cycles; Public Debt; Public Financial Management; Municipal Accounting; Governance; Sustainability; Public Sector Accounting; Financial Accountability.
Introduction
The field of public sector accounting has become increasingly important in evaluating governmental transparency, accountability, and efficiency. María Dolores Guillamón has contributed extensively to these themes through research examining financial transparency, local government debt, corruption determinants, budgetary performance, public service management, and governance frameworks. Her work frequently combines accounting, economics, political science, and public administration perspectives to address challenges facing municipalities and public organizations.[4][5]
Research Profile
María Dolores Guillamón serves within the Department of Financial Economics and Accounting at the University of Murcia and has established an international academic presence through collaborations with researchers and institutions across Europe. Her principal research lines include public sector management, municipal financial sustainability, transparency, public indebtedness, electoral cycles, urban development, corruption, budgetary deviations, efficiency, and governance.[3]
- 95 indexed scholarly documents.
- 3,146 Google Scholar citations.
- Google Scholar h-index of 33.
- Scopus record of 72 documents and 1,612 citations.
- Editorial board memberships in multiple international journals.
- Participation in publicly funded research projects and doctoral supervision.
Research Contributions
A significant contribution of María Dolores Guillamón’s research concerns transparency in local government financial reporting. Her studies have demonstrated how transparency practices influence governance quality, accountability mechanisms, borrowing costs, and public trust. Her work on electoral budget cycles and municipal finance has provided empirical evidence regarding political incentives and public expenditure behavior.[4][6]
She has also contributed to research on corruption determinants, public-private service provision, budget forecast deviations, debt sustainability, social media use in local governments, and efficiency assessment in public institutions. These studies have informed broader discussions regarding public management reform and evidence-based governance.[5][7]
Publications
Among the most influential publications authored by María Dolores Guillamón is The Determinants of Local Government’s Financial Transparency (2011), published in Local Government Studies. This highly cited research examined political and socio-economic factors affecting financial transparency in Spain’s largest municipalities and has become an important reference in public-sector accountability, governance, and transparency research. The study significantly advanced understanding of municipal disclosure practices and public financial management.[4]
The researcher has authored or co-authored journal articles, books, book chapters, conference papers, and research outputs covering financial accountability and public governance. Representative publications include:[4][5][6][7]
- The Determinants of Local Government’s Financial Transparency (2011).
- The Electoral Budget Cycle on Municipal Police Expenditure (2013).
- Accounting for Austerity: The Troika in the Eurozone (2015).
- The Impact of Transparency on the Cost of Sovereign Debt in Times of Economic Crisis (2016).
- Factors Influencing Social Media Use in Local Governments: The Case of Italy and Spain (2016).
- Efficiency Determinants for Higher Education Institutions: An Empirical Study of Italian Public Universities (2026).
Research Impact
The academic influence of María Dolores Guillamón is reflected through citation indicators, publication quality, international collaborations, doctoral supervision, and engagement with editorial activities. Her work has been cited extensively in studies concerning transparency, accountability, public debt, governance, and municipal management. Several publications have appeared in internationally recognized journals within public administration, accounting, and financial management disciplines.[1][2]
In addition to research output, she has supervised doctoral dissertations addressing corruption, transparency, governance, municipal efficiency, and public finance. She has also served on thesis committees and editorial boards for numerous international academic journals, contributing to scholarly quality assurance and disciplinary development.[3]
Award Suitability
The research profile of María Dolores Guillamón demonstrates characteristics commonly associated with recognition for a Best Research Article Award. Her scholarship combines methodological rigor, policy relevance, interdisciplinary analysis, and measurable academic impact. Research outputs have advanced understanding of transparency, accountability, debt management, and public governance while contributing practical insights for policymakers and public administrators.[4][5]
The sustained publication record, international visibility, citation performance, editorial service, research leadership, and educational contributions collectively support recognition within the academic community and align with the objectives of scholarly excellence awards.[1]
Conclusion
María Dolores Guillamón has established a distinguished academic profile through sustained research contributions in Financial Economics and Accounting, particularly within public sector management and transparency studies. Her publication record, citation impact, doctoral supervision, editorial participation, and international collaborations provide substantial evidence of scholarly influence. These achievements support her suitability for recognition in connection with the Best Research Article Award and related academic distinctions.[1][2]
External Links
References
- Google Scholar. (n.d.). María Dolores Guillamón citation profile. https://scholar.google.es/citations?user=M9wOToUAAAAJ&hl=es&oi=sra
- Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: María Dolores Guillamón, Author ID 36194911900. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=36194911900
- University of Murcia. (n.d.). Academic profile of María Dolores Guillamón. https://webs.um.es/mdguillamon/miwiki/doku.php
- Guillamón, M. D., Bastida, F., & Benito, B. (2011). The determinants of local government’s financial transparency. Local Government Studies, 37(4), 391–406. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2011.588704
- Guillamón, M. D., Rios, A. M., Gesuele, B., & Metallo, C. (2016). Factors influencing social media use in local governments: The case of Italy and Spain. Government Information Quarterly, 33(3), 460–471. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2016.06.005
- Guillamón, M. D., Bastida, F., & Benito, B. (2013). The electoral budget cycle on municipal police expenditure. European Journal of Law and Economics.
- Rella, A., Guillamón, M. D., Benito, B., & Vitolla, F. (2026). Efficiency determinants for higher education institutions: An empirical study of Italian public universities. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 75(1), 108–131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-09-2024-0649