Análise dos investimentos em políticas públicas na educação profissional e tecnológica do Estado de Goiás e o desenvolvimento socioeconômico municipal

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the effects of public investments in Vocational and Technological Education (VTE) policies on the socioeconomic development of municipalities in the state of Goiás, Brazil. Grounded in Public Finance Theoryparticularly the allocative and distributive functions of the State the study assumes that public investment in VTE constitutes a strategic instrument for promoting regional development, productive inclusion, and the reduction of territorial inequalities, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). The research adopts a quantitative approach, with an applied and explanatory design, employing the Difference-inDifferences (DID) method to estimate the causal effects of the public policy. The analysis compares municipalities served by the Technological Colleges of the State of Goiás (COTECs), defined as the treatment group, with municipalities not served by these institutions, which comprise the control group, over the period from 2016 to 2023. Municipal socioeconomic development is measured using the FIRJAN Municipal Development Index (IFDM) and its dimensions, incorporating control variables related to fiscal capacity and intergovernmental transfers. The results indicate positive and statistically significant effects of investments in VTE on the aggregate IFDM, with a stronger impact observed in the Employment and Income dimension, highlighting the role of VTE as a driver of local socioeconomic development. However, no significant effects were identified in the Education dimension in the short term, suggesting that a longer maturation period is required for these impacts to materialize. The study concludes that VTE plays a relevant role in promoting municipal development, reinforcing the importance of continuous, evidence-based financing policies.