Corrupting Learning: Evidence from Missing Federal Education Funds in Brazil

Claudio Ferraz, Frederico Finan and Diana Moreira

No 18150, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper examines if money matters in education by looking at whether missing resources due to corruption affect student outcomes. We use data from the auditing of Brazil's local governments to construct objective measures of corruption involving educational block grants transferred from the central government to municipalities. Using variation in the incidence of corruption across municipalities and controlling for student, school, and municipal characteristics, we find a significant negative association between corruption and the school performance of primary school students. Students residing in municipalities where corruption in education was detected score 0.35 standard deviations less on standardized tests, and have significantly higher dropout and failure rates. Using a rich dataset of school infrastructure and teacher and principal questionnaires, we also find that school inputs such as computer labs, teaching supplies, and teacher training are reduced in the presence of corruption. Overall, our findings suggest that in environments where basic schooling resources are lacking, money does matter for student achievement.

JEL-codes: D73 H72 I21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-pbe
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (73)

Published as Claudio Ferraz & Frederico Finan & Diana B. Moreira, 2012. "Corrupting learning," Journal of Public Economics, vol 96(9-10), pages 712-726.

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Related works:
Working Paper: Corrupting Learning: Evidence From Missing Federal Education Funds in Brazil (2012)
Working Paper: Corrupting Learning: Evidence from Missing Federal Education Funds in Brazil (2012)
Working Paper: Corrupting Learning: Evidence from Missing Federal Education Funds in Brazil (2009)
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