I don't need to tell anyone in #SierraLeone that parents and communities contribute a lot to the financing of "free" public #education. HHs and communities have long contributed to fill gaps in service provision left by the state. (1/6) https://www.ictd.ac/blog/inequity-informal-financing-public-education-sierra-leone/

Based on research in Koinadugu, Kailahun, and Kono throughout 2017, I estimate that households contribute as much or more than the state to the financing of primary education through informal taxes and user fees. (On avg, $25 a year per student versus the state's $24.) (2/6)

The distribution of this is unfair. Poorer HHs pay more in relation to their income & poorer communities are less able to pay for the construction & maintenance of schools. As elsewhere (including the US), the quality of education depends on the wealth of the community. (3/6)

Fundamentally, the burden of financing public goods falls on individuals where the #tax system raises insufficient revenue. In 2017, Sierra Leone had a tax-to-GDP ratio of 11 percent. (4/6)

I have hope that the situation in #SierraLeone is changing: The govt of @PresidentBio has prioritized free public education AND domestic revenue mobilization. The @NRASierraLeone under @DrJibao has seen unprecedented increases in tax revenues. (5/6)

In the coming year, I hope to follow up on this research to see how these recent reforms have affected informal #tax burdens and the overall progressivity of the financing of public #education. Time will tell if parents and communities feel the changes. (6/6)

@ICTDTax