Banca de DEFESA: Nilton Oliveira da Silva

(DES)CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC VALUE IN BRAZILIAN EDUCATION: a comprehensive analysis of indicators, fiscal austerity and social well-being

Public value. Social welfare. Fiscal Austerity. Accounting. Education.

The main objective of this research is to understand how economic, social, intangible, and political factors reveal the public educational value, exploring its relationship with fiscal austerity policies and the resulting impacts on the social well-being of Brazilian society. Mark Moore (1995) introduced the paradigm of public value, based on a theoretical framework that sought convergences from the private sector in public management. Moore argued that the construction of public value goes beyond rhetoric, giving meaning to the efforts of public managers to find creative and appropriate solutions. Since then, various theorists have addressed the concept of public value, highlighting its complexity and evolution. However, measuring public value, especially in education, faces challenges due to its complexity, requiring multifaceted approaches and consideration of indicators from different dimensions. In this sense, accounting has emerged as a science with a solid foundation to support the measurement of public value. Public administration has adopted new approaches, such as the New Public Service (NPS) and public value management, aiming to improve public governance and adapt to constant transformations, focusing on creating value in various scenarios. The research was conducted in two distinct parts: in the first, through confirmatory component analysis and the development of a measurement model, the economic, social, intangible, and political indicators reflecting on the public value of education were explored from 2015 to 2022 for the 27 Brazilian states. In the second stage, through a partial least squares structural equation model (SEM-PLS), with the assistance of SMARTPLS software, the analysis of the relationship between fiscal austerity policies, educational public value, and social well-being was conducted. The research results allowed for a deep understanding of the indicators that shape public value in Brazilian education, as well as a critical analysis of the impacts of fiscal austerity policies in this context. Additionally, the results contributed to the discussion of how the promotion of educational public value is directly related to social wellbeing. The research aimed to fill a gap in understanding the relationship between public value in education, fiscal austerity policies, and their impacts on social well-being. The relevance of this study is intrinsically linked to the importance of education as a fundamental public service for the development of a just and equitable society. Furthermore, the analysis of fiscal austerity policies and their impact on educational public value allows for a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by public managers in balancing budgetary constraints with the need to promote accessible and effective education. This is particularly relevant in changing scenarios, such as the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. The connection between educational public value and social well-being adds a practical dimension to the research, highlighting the importance of quality education for sustainable development and improving the overall quality of life of society. Understanding how educational policies can impact social well-being allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the socioeconomic implications of government decisions. Moreover, the relevant role of accounting in providing a comprehensive view of the factors influencing the effectiveness of the educational system is emphasized, contributing to guiding public managers in the efficient allocation of resources and promoting quality education for all citizens.