This papers analyzes the pattern of expenditure by Brazilian families on education, looking for to identify whether there is racial difference in the determination of the type of expenses. The study is based on a semi-parametric analysis of the Engel curve of education, using data from the Research of Family Budgets (POF) - 2002/2003 and separating the families into income groups to identify whether there are racial differences inside a same group. The results suggest that the variable "race" is significant for the sample as a whole, but it becomes significant (5% of trust) only for the last group, indicating that there is no racial difference in the expenditure decision with education among the poorest families.
Engel’s curve; education expenditure; semiparametric analysis; racial bias
