An analysis of the choice of higher education in Brazil

Abstract The aim of this paper is to evaluate the factors conditioning the choice of type of higher education course in Brazil. Based on data from the 2000 and 2010 Demographic Censuses and the Higher Education Synopsis from2000, we model the choice of course by the individual using the conditional logit model. The variables that affect this choice are: individual and family characteristics; candidate-vacancy relationship (competition) and course duration; income (mean and variability) and unemployment. This analysis is done for the total number of individuals with the age required for college entrance examination in the year 2000. The results indicated that expected yields, unemployment rate and the wage variability of careers only influence the individuals of the highest quartile. On the other hand, competition in the selective process has a greater impact on the choice of individuals in the lower distribution quartile.