Prova Brasil, índice de qualidade de educação e gastos educacionais nos municípios cearenses

Abstract

Considering the importance of investments in education performed by 184 municipalities in Ceará, this study investigated the impact of education expenditures on the standardized average scores for two groups of students enrolled in public schools, one group of students in the early years (4th and 5th grades) and another group of students in the final years (8th and 9th grades), during 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. Descriptive statistics for the standardized average of both early and final years students have shown an upward trend during the period analyzed, followed by a growing trend in education spending made by municipalities in Ceará. Based on this evidence, estimations based on instrumental variable and fixed effect panel data were conducted, using an education index as instrument, which presented a positive and significant effect of investments in education on the standardized average scores of the Prova Brasil for both groups.