Three essays in applied economics: an evaluation of Brazilian public policies

My dissertation is composed by three essays with ex-post evaluations of public policies adopted in a major country of the developing world: Brazil. In each essay, I have tried to identify the main outcomes of the evaluated policies using quantitative econometric methods. Ultimately, the objective of these studies is to contribute to the policy debate by providing a credible evidence of policy outcomes and limitations. My first chapter investigates how fare-free public transportation for the elderly affects the travel behavior and well-being of policy beneficiaries in major Brazilian metro areas. The second essay of my thesis analyzes how a series of changes in urban speed limits affected road accidents and travel time in São Paulo, Brazilian largest city. Last, my third chapter studies the expansion of affirmative action policies in Brazilian Federal universities, measuring how the adoption of these policies have changed the enrolment of students from targeted underprivileged groups. In each of these essays, I provide novel evidence about the impacts of the evaluated policies. On my first chapter I present evidence that the speed limit reductions adopted in São Paulo have had a substantial impact on road accident reduction, and the welfare benefits associated with this outcome largely outweighs the welfare costs imposed by the policy restrictions due to longer travel times. The second chapter shows that the adoption of affirmative action by Brazilian universities increased the enrollment of underprivileged students, however, while race-conscious policies led to the enrollment of more Black students, race-blind affirmative action had no significant impacts on the enrollment of racial minorities. The third chapter shows that the policy of fare-free public transportation has a very limited effect on the use of private vehicles by beneficiaries, so a price incentive to public transportation may not be an effective tool for reducing car-related externalities.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural & Applied Econ

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Schwambach Vieira, Renato

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christensen, Peter
• Arends-Kuenning, Mary
• Dall'Erba, Sandy
• Chagas, André

• Brazil, impact evaluation, policy evaluation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2018 Renato Schwambach Vieira

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101663

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/101663