ISSN: 2265-6294

A Microsimulation of the Impact of Free Tuition Law on Income Inequality and Poverty Among Philippine Households

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Richmond Keith N. Simeon,Ricardo L. Dizon

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide an ex-ante analysis of the impact of Free Tuition Law (FTL) using microsimulation modelling. Microdata from the 2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) was used to simulate the changes in total income, poverty, and income inequality at the household level. It was found out that households whose head are engaged in non-farming activities combined with having more years of education and being professional/technical workers have the highest total household income in the 2018 FIES. In the microsimulation model, it was found out that total household income increased among FTL recipient and non-recipient households. Due to the implementation of FTL, poverty declined as seen in Head Count Poverty, Poverty Gap, Severity of Poverty, and Sen-Shorrocks-Thon indices. Moreover, the gap between the rich and the poor has declined as seen in the Gini Index. This study recommends the expansion of the Tertiary Education Subsidy program under the FTL to bolster the confidence of low- and middle-income households to send their members into higher education.

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