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Modelling alternative student loan schemes for Brazil

Lorraine Dearden () and Paulo Nascimento

Economics of Education Review, 2019, vol. 71, issue C, 83-94

Abstract: This paper simulates student loan schemes for Brazil. A copula approach is applied to simulate dynamic earnings paths for graduates. Repayment patterns are then simulated for time-based and income-contingent loan designs. The results show that the Brazilian time-based scheme involved unsustainable repayment burdens for many graduates and contributed to the scheme's high default rates. We also show that the new income-contingent scheme is also likely to involve high taxpayer subsidies. We consider alternative designs with different strengths and weaknesses but favour an income-contingent scheme with a loan fee, repayment rates at 50% of current income tax rates and an interest rate at the government's cost of borrowing upon graduation and above initial tax threshold. We conclude by emphasising that full involvement of the federal revenue system is more desirable than the present approach of employer withholding. This would increase the earnings base and reduce costs, which is important for Brazil's current precarious fiscal situation.

Keywords: Student loans; Taxpayer subsidies; Repayment burdens; Time-based repayment loans; Income contingent loans; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H52 H81 I22 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:71:y:2019:i:c:p:83-94

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2018.11.005

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