Impactos da reforma do FIES na qualidade dos cursos privados de Ciências Econômicas: evidências da Lei nº 13.530/2017

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the effects of the 2017 reform of the Brazilian Student Financing Fund (FIES), enacted by Law No. 13,530/2017, on the quality of private undergraduate programs in Economics. Unlike most studies focused on higher education access, this research examines the impact of financing policies on academic performance, using data from the National Student Performance Exam (Enade) for the years 2015 and 2022. The empirical strategy is based on a Differences-in-Differences (DiD) approach, comparing Economics programs with and without FIES beneficiaries before and after the reform. The sample includes 102 courses observed in both periods and incorporates institutional, regional, and weighting controls. The findings suggest that the reform led to a significant improvement in performance for programs with FIES students, particularly in Specific Knowledge. Overall, the results highlight that financing policies can not only expand access but also foster improvements in the quality of higher education.