Public funds in dispute: Central government budget expenses with public debt, federal universities and science and technology in Brazil (2003-2020)

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the resources allocated by the Brazilian government for the payment of public debt, for federal universities and for science and technology in the period from 2003 to 2020. For comparative effect, we present the resources destined, year by year, to public debt, to federal universities, to the science and technology function, and to the bodies that support and promote research. In this documentary study, primary data were collected on the Chamber of Deputies website, tabulated and monetarily updated for January 2021, according to the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA). In the period 2003-2020, the Federal Government allocated R$ 9.497 trillion in interest payments, charges and debt amortization. This amount represented 12 times more than the resources destined for federal universities and 55 times more than for science and technology. The allocation of a significant portion of the federal budget to enable the profitability of capital in the financial sphere, through the payment of public debt is a major structural obstacle to the expansion of resources to finance social policies, higher education and science and technology in Brazil.