Alguns desafios para o financiamento das universidades públicas estaduais do estado de São Paulo

Abstract

This article discusses the main challenges faced in financing the three state-owned universities in São Paulo over the past few years. These challenges can be separated into three different dimensions. First of all, there is a dispute between the various sectors of public policy receiving public funding (education, health, security, transport, social welfare, etc.). Second, the education and health sector budgets are determined by provisions in the federal constitution; and that leads to intense disputes between sectors subject to such links and other sectors. Finally, there is competition for funding among the three universities themselves and other institutions which cannot count on the same budgetary linkages. These conflicts can be lessened when the state of São Paulo’s tax income is significantly higher than it has been, and that depends on how the economy will evolve.