Ana Lúcia Kassouf

Deriving conditional and unconditional marginal effects in log earnings equations estimated by Heckman's procedure

Although the Heckman approach has often been used in empirical analysis, the marginal effects, necessary to interpret the effect of the regressors on the dependent variable, appeared to be overlooked. Using the Heckman approach, general expressions are derived for calculating the conditional and unconditional marginal effects. Based on a sample of Brazilian women, the conditional and unconditional return to education are calculated for the logarithm of earnings equation estimated by Heckmans procedure, comparing them to the marginal effect of education obtained without correcting for selectivity bias. The same analysis is carried out for a discrete variable ‘black’.

Acesso aos serviços de saúde nas áreas urbana e rural do Brasil

Utilizando-se dados da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicilios (PNAD), de 1998, analisou-se os determinantes da procura por atendimento a saude devido a doenca, nas areas urbana e rural do Brasil. A variavel estado de saude do individuo foi estimada em funcao de variaveis de infra-estrutura do domicilio, caracteristicas individuais, renda familiar, etc., e sua estimativa foi utilizada como variavel explanatoria na equacao de procura por atendimento a saude, para evitar endogeneidade. O fator mais importante na determinacao da procura por atendimento a saude foi o estado de saude do individuo, tanto na area urbana quanto no meio rural. Na area urbana, o nivel de escolaridade tambem teve grande impacto em reduzir a procura por servicos de saude.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Parental Education on Malnutrition among Children in Brazil: A Full Income Approach*

Malnutrition is a major problem among children in developing countries with growth failure affecting an estimated 33% of preschool children in such countries. Findings are reported from a study exploring the effects of parental education upon malnutrition among children age 2-5 years in Brazil. Childrens nutritional status was measured by the Z score of height-for-age weight-for-height and weight-for-age using data from the 1989 Brazilian National Health and Nutrition Survey. The demand functions of mothers and fathers education levels their estimated market wage rates estimated household full income and other factors are estimated with the Z scores as dependent variables. Stunting as reflected in height-for-age was the most serious malnutrition problem among the children. Malnutrition was far more widespread among children of parents with little or no education with parental education having both a direct impact and indirect effects through wages and full income on child health. Primary education of at least four but less than 8 years yielded the only significant direct effect. However higher levels of education had an even greater impact through the indirect effects on wages and full income. The impact of parents value of time on child health was negative while the impact of household full income was positive and predominant. Improved parental education could have a dramatic effect upon reducing malnutrition among preschool children in Brazil.

The impact of conditional cash transfer programs on household work decisions in Brazil

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs have become widespread in poor countries as a way to alleviate current poverty and provide investments in human capital that improve families’ living conditions in the long-term. The first goal is accomplished when poor families receive money from governments on a monthly basis. The second goal is reached by conditioning the cash transfers on certain behaviors such as childrens regular school attendance. However, these programs may also have impacts on time use decisions within beneficiary households, particularly with respect to time spent working. Using data from 2003, we measure the impact of the Brazilian Bolsa Escola CCT program on childrens and parents’ labor status using the econometric framework of policy evaluation. Probit regressions and propensity score-matching methods show that this program reduces the probability of work for children aged 6–15, increases school enrollment, and increases mother and father participation in the labor force.

Uma investigação dos determinantes socioeconômicos da depressão mental no Brasil com ênfase nos efeitos da educação

This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic factors and mental depression emphasizing the educational effect. Analyses for men and women were performed separately, using a 2003 Brazilian Household Survey (PNAD). It was verified that socioeconomic conditions can interfere in the probability of both men and women to develop depressive symptoms. However, the effect of these conditions is larger for women. Finally we concluded that higher education can reduce the risk of depression.

O impacto do trabalho infantil no setor agrícola sobre a saúde

The aim of this dissertation is to identify the causal relation between rural child labour and health. The analysis utilized the PNAD, a Brazilian household survey, from 1998 and 2003. The econometric modeling was based on the pseudo-panel approach and was considered the children from 5 to 15 years old in 1998 and from 10 to 20 years old in 2003. The results show that work and work in risky jobs in the agricultural sector do not differ from those impacts of other sectors. It was also presented, for all individuals that work in the agricultural sector does not impact the health capital and work in the non rural sector impact negatively the health capital. So, the government intervention in rural areas should be different from the one implemented on the urban area to mitigate the impact of child labour on health and also, the government intervention should be implemented in parallel with the improvement of the access to the health system, drugs policies, maternal health education program.

Efeitos do aumento da idade mínima legal no trabalho dos brasileiros de 14 e 15 anos

In 1998 the child labor legislation was amended restricting the employment to minors under sixteen instead of fourteen. Using data from household surveys (PNAD) it is possible to observe a decline in the percentage of 14 and 15 year-old children working in the decades. This paper examines whether a federal law restricting the employment of child labor contributed to this decline. Using a probit model and pooling the cross-sectional data from 1995 to 2003, we observe statistically significant coefficients for the variable representing the change in the legislation for boys and girls in the urban and rural areas. Therefore, it can be inferred that the legislation contributed to a decrease in the percentage of teenagers working in the labor market, although it did not eliminate child labor.

ExistE Explicação Econômica para o sub-rEgistro dE crimEs contra a propriEdadE?*

In this paper we intend to analyze the influence of socioeconomic factors on the under-recorded crimes against property. The victims decision to record a crime or not to the competent authorities, is based on the hypothesis of the victims economic rationality. Using individual data from a victimization survey undertaken in four capitals of Brazil and a probit model, we found evidences in favor of the hypothesis that the victims of crimes act rationally, evaluating the costs and expected benefits of recording or not the crime to the authorities. It was observed that the some of the victims personal characteristics, the losses, law enforcement and the fear of reprisals are factors that affect his or her decision.

A cointegration analysis of crime, economic activity, and police performance in Sao Paulo city

The main objective of this paper is to investigate possible causes for the significant reduction observed in crime rates in São Paulo city. By applying a cointegration analysis, we observed long-run relationships between crime, economic activity, and police performance. The results indicate that the lethal crime rate is positively related to unemployment and negatively related to real wages and to the results of law-enforcement activities, specifically arrests and seizure of firearms. Moreover, the hypothesis that the Disarmament Statute led to a reduction in the lethal crime rate is not rejected.

Impact Evaluation of the Brazilian Non-Contributory Pension Program Benefício De Prestação Continuada (BPC) on Family Welfare

The Beneficio de Prestacao Continuada (BPC) program is a non‐contributory pension addressed to poor elders over 65 years‐old. This paper evaluates its effects on household composition and on labor market outcomes of the elders and their co‐residing relatives. We could not capture any sign of changes in the household composition due to the program. However we found decreases in the labor force participation of the elders, indicating that the program makes it possible for these poor elders to retire, what would not be possible otherwise. Also there is a drop in labor force participation of co‐residents. However, the effect is heterogeneous and the effect is concentrated for adults over 30 years old, while there is no effect for young adults. When analyzing only rural areas, we observed a decrease in labor participation of elders and co‐residents from 18 to 50 years old receiving BPC. We also observe a decrease in child labor.