Impact Analysis of the 2014 Oil Crisis on Employment, Income, and Higher Education in High Oil Income Municipalities in the North of Rio de Janeiro State

Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of the 2014 oil crisis on employment, income, and higher education in two municipalities in the North of Rio de Janeiro State known for their high incomes from oil production and royalties: Campos dos Goytacazes and Macaé. The analysis consisted of a biographical survey and economic, social and educational indicators.  According to the analysis, there were negative impacts on the receipt of royalties and special participations and on the number and quality of formal jobs in both municipalities during the period under analysis. Despite the negative impacts on economic indicators, an increase in the number of enrollments in higher education courses was observed in both municipalities in the distance learning modality, with a more significant increase in the private school system, while there was a decrease in the number of enrollments in the face-to-face modality both in these municipalities and in Brazil. This study suggests that there has been a migration from face-to-face teaching to distance learning. Such phenomenon calls for further research in the area in future works to better understand this transition and its impacts