Impacts of loan-to-value ceilings in the Brazilian mortgage loans

This study aims to assess the impact of loan-to-value ceiling applied by Resolution BCB No. 4,271 on the mortgage market in September 2013. Based on public aggregated data, we assessed the effect of the regulatory change on the loan-to-value and on quality of the portfolio using impact evaluation techniques that aim to estimate true causal effects. Results suggest the intervention did not reduce total mortgage loans. Interrupted time series and differences-in-differences estimates show statistically significant effects on the quality of the portfolio measured by the proportion of poorly rated credits.O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar o impacto do teto do valor do empréstimo aplicado pela Resolução BCB 4.271 no mercado de hipotecas em setembro de 2013. Com base em dados públicos agregados, avaliamos o efeito da mudança regulatória no valor dos empréstimos e na qualidade do portfólio usando técnicas de avaliação de impacto que buscam estimar verdadeiros efeitos causais. Os resultados sugerem que a intervenção não reduziu o total de empréstimos hipotecários. As estimativas de séries temporais interrompidas e diferenças em diferenças mostram efeitos estatisticamente significativos na qualidade da carteira, medida pela proporção de créditos com classificação ruim

Efeito dose resposta do Fundo Constitucional de financiamento do Centro-Oeste (FCO) do estado de Goiás

The study evaluates the Constitutional Financing Fund for the Center-West (FCO) in the state of Goiás between the years 2004 and 2011, using Rais microdata, and loans from the FCO "Empresarial" Program. The results show a positive and statistically significant impact of the FCO on employment and wage growth at the firm level. We use the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and the Generalized Propensity Score (GPS) methods. The GPS identifies the treatment variable as continuous. This approach is original in the literature on regional funds evaluation. Moreover, the dose response results indicate that the loans values affect wages and employment, as well the PSG results suggest that around the limit of R$ 200,000.00 the proportional variation of employment and wages are higher as higher are the loans

Demanda mediana por serviços públicos e desempenho eleitoral: evidências do modelo do eleitor mediano para os municípios brasileiros

The aim of this work is to empirically test the validity of the median voter model for the Brazilian case. The test was made feasible by the possibility of reelection established in 1997 by the Reelection Amendment. With municipal information from the Demographic Census and from TSE for the year of 2000, we identified the bundle offered by candidates running for reelection as the expenditures realized during their first terms. Next, we estimated the demand for local public services. Relaxing the assumption of perfect information of candidates in relation to the median demand, and imposing a weaker hypothesis, of rational expectations, we justified the estimation of a measure of misperception of candidates for re-election in relation to median demand. Next, we estimated the impact of the module of this measure on the electoral performance of mayors incumbents using a selection model. The result suggests that the median voter model is valid for the case of Brazilian municipalities.O objetivo deste trabalho é testar empiricamente a validade do modelo do eleitor mediano para o caso brasileiro. O teste foi viabilizado pela possibilidade de reeleição, estabelecida em 1997 por meio da Emenda da Reeleição. Com informações municipais do Censo Populacional e do TSE para o ano de 2000, identificaram-se as cestas ofertadas por candidatos à reeleição como os gastos efetuados durante seus primeiros mandatos. Em seguida, estimou-se a demanda por serviços públicos locais. Relaxando a hipótese de informação perfeita dos candidatos em relação à demanda mediana, e impondo uma hipótese menos forte, de expectativas racionais, justificou-se a estimação de uma medida de erro de percepção dos candidatos à reeleição em relação à demanda mediana. Em seguida, estimou-se o impacto do módulo dessa medida sobre o desempenho eleitoral dos candidatos à reeleição usando modelos de seleção. O resultado obtido sugere que o modelo do eleitor mediano é válido para os municípios brasileiros

Demanda mediana por serviços públicos e desempenho eleitoral: evidências do modelo do eleitor mediano para os municípios brasileiros

O objetivo deste trabalho é testar empiricamente a validade do modelo do eleitor mediano para o caso brasileiro. O teste foi viabilizado pela possibilidade de reeleição, estabelecida em 1997 por meio da Emenda da Reeleição. Com informações municipais do Censo Populacional e do TSE para o ano de 2000, identificaram-se as cestas ofertadas por candidatos à reeleição como os gastos efetuados durante seus primeiros mandatos. Em seguida, estimou-se a demanda por serviços públicos locais. Relaxando a hipótese de informação perfeita dos candidatos em relação à demanda mediana, e impondo uma hipótese menos forte, de expectativas racionais, justificou-se a estimação de uma medida de erro de percepção dos candidatos à reeleição em relação à demanda mediana. Em seguida, estimou-se o impacto do módulo dessa medida sobre o desempenho eleitoral dos candidatos à reeleição usando modelos de seleção. O resultado obtido sugere que o modelo do eleitor mediano é válido para os municípios brasileiros

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Effects of the Fiscal Responsibility Law on expenditure categories and functions of the Brazilian municipal districts (1998-2004).

Embora alguns estudos tenham encontrado evidências acerca da eficácia da Lei de Responsabilidade Fiscal (LRF) em reduzir as despesas estaduais e municipais, procurou-se neste trabalho, analisar os efeitos da lei sobre níveis mais desagregados de despesa. Partiu-se da hipótese de que, possivelmente, os componentes menos rígidos de despesa teriam sido mais afetados pela LRF. Dessa forma, as despesas foram classificadas em categorias e funções, abrangendo os municípios brasileiros no período entre 1998 e 2004. A segmentação por categorias seguiu uma estrutura contábil, enquanto a classificação por funções se referiu à quatro principais áreas de destinação das despesas: social, overhead, infra-estrutura e outras. Os dados obtidos foram provenientes da FINBRA, uma base de dados elaborada pela Secretaria do Tesouro Nacional. Utilizou-se também a base de dados do Tribunal Superior Eleitoral para a construção de algumas variáveis políticas. Os resultados das análises descritivas mostraram que os gastos mais rígidos cresceram mais do que a receita para o total de municípios, indicando um maior comprometimento do orçamento. Adicionalmente, foram encontradas evidências de que a LRF obteve sucesso em fazer os municípios cumprirem os limites relacionados a ela. Inclusive, estimou-se um modelo de variável categórica (Logit de efeitos fixos) com o intuito de analisar o impacto da LRF sobre a probabilidade de cumprimento do limite de gasto com pessoal (60% da Receita Corrente Líquida). Os resultados indicaram que a LRF afetou positivamente a probabilidade de respeitarem o limite. No entanto, os municípios que se encontravam dentro dos limites podem não ter sido afetados pela lei, pois permitiram que a despesa com pessoal crescesse mais do que a receita. Os resultados das estimações pelo método de Anderson-Hsiao para painéis dinâmicos mostraram que a LRF não surtiu efeito sobre gastos com pessoal e outras despesas correntes (mais rígidos). O investimento (menos rígido) foi a categoria mais prejudicada, pois sofreu forte redução devido à lei. Assim, a LRF reduziu a despesa total, mas em virtude da forte queda do investimento. Os resultado obtidos para as funções de despesa mostraram que o gasto com social sofreu uma pequena redução, enquanto a despesa com overhead um aumento. O gasto com infra-estrutura (menos rígido) foi o mais atingido, apresentando uma forte queda em virtude da lei, a qual acabou influenciando no resultado da despesa orçamentária. Portanto, as evidências encontradas neste trabalho confirmam a hipótese de que o ajuste promovido pela LRF se deu realmente sobre os componentes menos rígidos de despesa.Although some studies have found evidences about the efficacy of the Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL) in reducing state and municipal expenditures, it was intended to analyze the effects of the law on more disaggregated levels of expenditures in this work. The initial hypothesis was that more flexible expenditures components would have been more affected by the FRL. Thus, the expenditures were classified in categories and functions, considering the brazilian Municipal Districts in the period between 1998 and 2004. The repartition by categories followed an accounting structure, while the classification by functions referred to four main areas of expenditures destination: social, overhead, infrastructure and others. The data were obtained from FINBRA, a database elaborated by the National Treasury Office. The Electoral Supreme Court database was also utilized in the construction of political variables. The results of the descriptive analysis showed that less flexible expenditures increased more than the revenues, indicating a higher commitment of the budget. Further, it was found evidences that the FRL succeed in making the municipal districts accomplish the limits related to it. It was also estimated a model of categorical variable (Fixed effects Logit) that analyzes the impact of the FRL on the probability of accomplishing the personnel expenditure limit (60% of the Net Current Revenue). The results showed that the FRL had a positive effect on the probability of respecting the limit. Nevertheless, the municipal districts that were already respecting the limit may not have been affected by the law, since they let the personnel expenditure increase more than the revenue. The results of the estimations by Anderson-Hsiao?s dynamic panel data method indicated that the FRL didn?t have effect on personnel and other current expenditures (less flexible). The investment (more flexible) was the most damaged category, since it suffered a major reduction by the law. Thus, the FRL had a negative impact on total expenditure by making the investment decrease considerably. The results obtained for the expenditure functions showed that the social expenditure had a slight decrease, while the overhead?s had an increase. The infrastructure expenditure (more flexible) was the most affected, showing a major decrease caused by the law, which influenced the result of the total expenditure. Therefore, the evidence founded in this work confirms the hypothesis that the adjustment accomplished by the FRL indeed reached the more flexible expenditure components

Impact of school day extension on educational outcomes: Evidence from Mais Educação in Brazil

There are many elements to the public policies required to reduce educational disparities among students. They include issues related to infrastructure, remuneration and training of education professionals, and debates regarding unifying content at the national level and on forms of public service provision and delivery. There are also suggestions regarding how students can best make use of their time to seek to expand their knowledge, relationships and school participation. While there are many initiatives that focus on all of these aspects, their impacts are not always subject to a causal analysis capable of providing the information necessary to improve them. This Working Paper provides evidence regarding the impact of the extended school days implemented under the Programa Mais Educação ('More Education' programme - PME), an initiative of the Brazilian federal government. The PME transfers funds directly to educational institutions, which, in turn, purchase educational materials and fund monitoring grants for extracurricular activities. [...