THE FOCUS OF THE ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITIES: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY READING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.13357Keywords:
Educational Inequalities, Economics of Education, Fiscal Federalism, Financing of Education, EquityAbstract
This article discusses the role of the Economics of Education in analyzing regional educational inequalities, proposing a conceptual framework that integrates three main axes. The first explores the economic foundations of educational financing, debating the tension between market logic and the social right to education. The second analyzes the institutional constraints of fiscal federalism in Brazil, assessing the capacity for resource redistribution and the effectiveness of equalization mechanisms as instruments of social justice. The third addresses the sociological and pedagogical mediations that connect financial resources to learning outcomes, recognizing the complex school dynamics and the role of different educational actors. Drawing on a critique of Human Capital Theory (Schultz, 1961; Becker, 1964) and in dialogue with contemporary authors (Bourdieu, 1998; Bowles & Gintis, 1976; Laval, 2019), the text argues that Economics of Education, when combined with historical-institutional and pedagogical approaches, offers robust tools to interpret regional asymmetries. The study expands categories to measure equity, allocative efficiency, and institutional capacity, proposing a research agenda for heterogeneous contexts. The conclusion indicates that, although redistributive mechanisms are essential, their effectiveness is limited without inter-federative coordination, budget planning based on student-quality cost, and evidence-based governance. Furthermore, it highlights the need for a renewed focus on pedagogical practices and the human dimension of education to effectively address inequalities.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Clériston José da Silva Andrade, Paulo César Marques de Sndrade Santos, Rosilda Arruda Ferreira

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