Economia da educação: os efeitos do gosto e da internet como insumos para proficiência

Abstract

This thesis is composed of two independent essays related to the economics of education. The first essay objective to measure the effect of enjoying studying mathematics on performance in mathematics. For this purpose, microdata from Prova Brasil of 2017. was used for a sample of students from the 9 o. year of public elementary school. The empirical strategy used was propensity score matching (propensity score matching) and the Lewbel method (2012). The results showed a positive effect on proficiency in Mathematics, confirming the hypothesis that enjoying studying Mathematics has if a positive effect on performance. The second essay sought to evaluate the effect of computers with internet in schools on the performance in Mathematics of students in the 9 o. year of public schools in Brazilian schools. Using the microdata from the Prova Brasil (2019) and from the Census (2019) and an empirical strategy based on linear multilevel models, evidence of positive effects on performance in Mathematics was found, even after controlling for characteristics of the student, of the class and school. It is therefore concluded that more attention should be given to this issue, which requires effective public policies to promote an environment more conducive to learning and the accumulation of human capital.