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Minimum Spending in Education and the Flypaper Effect

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  • Cruz, Tassia
  • Silva, Talita

Abstract

Education funds in Brazil comprise local revenue and intergovernmental transfers. This study analyzes the importance of budget structure on government spending in education by estimating the effects of two characteristics of the fiscal arrangement: (i) a minimum spending rule, and (ii) a set of intergovernmental transfers. The minimum spending rule has increased educational spending only for municipalities that were below the minimum; for those above the minimum, we find a negative effect of the rule. Whereas our results indicate that the minimum rule has increased investments in low-spending municipalities, it has not affected spending in personnel for high-spending ones. We then analyze whether the sources of funds matter to government spending by estimating the flypaper effect of intergovernmental transfers using an instrumental variable method. We find a significant flypaper effect for redistribution transfers. Interestingly, we do not find flypaper effect for other types of intergovernmental transfers.

Suggested Citation

  • Cruz, Tassia & Silva, Talita, 2020. "Minimum Spending in Education and the Flypaper Effect," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:77:y:2020:i:c:s0272775719304042
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2020.102012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jyotsna Rosario & K. R. Shanmugam, 2023. "Impact of transfers on elementary education expenditure and measuring equalisation transfers to Indian States," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 141-168, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Educational finance; Expenditures; Efficiency; Flypaper effect; Intergovernmental transfers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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