A influência da escolaridade dos prefeitos nos gastos municipais em educação no Ceará: uma abordagem econométrica com TWFE

Abstract

This research investigates the determinants of municipal education spending in Ceará, with a focus on the influence of mayors' educational attainment, using a two-way fixed effects (TWFE) panel data econometric model. The results show that economic variables, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Tax Revenue, have positive and significant effects on educational expenditures, indicating that economic growth and tax collection are key drivers of investments in the sector. The analysis of public managers' educational levels revealed intriguing findings. Mayors with higher education degrees showed an average reduction in education spending; however, positive and significant interactions in specific years suggest that these managers increased investments strategically, reflecting the impact of institutional incentives. These findings indicate that educated mayors may prioritize diversified budget allocations but respond effectively to public policy demands in appropriate contexts. The study underscores the importance of technical capacity and education levels among public managers in strengthening education funding. Aligned public policies, such as continuous training programs and incentives to meet educational goals, could amplify the observed positive effects. Finally, the research contributes to the literature by adopting an innovative approach that integrates individual characteristics of public managers with economic and institutional contexts, offering new perspectives on municipal public management in Brazil.