Free bus and rail transport in the 27 capitals could inject R$60 billion into the economy
The implementation of free public transport in the 27 Brazilian capitals would represent an injection of R$60.3 billion annually into the country’s economy and could have an effect similar to that of Bolsa Família.
This is the main conclusion of a study released on Monday (May 4, 2026) by researchers from UnB (University of Brasília) and UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Here’s the (PDF – 4.2 MB).
Entitled “Zero Fare in Public Transport as an Income Distribution Policy”, the research was coordinated by professor Thiago Trindade, from the UnB Institute of Political Science, and argues that this would be an action that could help combat inequalities.
The study was financed by the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Zero Tariff in the National Congress, and has the support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
IMMEDIATE LIQUIDITY
This free service would be related to metropolitan bus and rail transport. The researchers used data from the 2024 National Mobility Survey and indicators from bus operators and metro rail systems.
The study discounted 24.38% of the exemptions and gratuities that already exist today — such as the elderly, students and people with disabilities. This represents around R$14.7 billion, which is already circulating in the economy. Therefore, according to the researchers, the real injection would be R$45.6 billion.
“We are talking about an injection of immediate liquidity into the pockets of Brazilian families. By converting compulsory spending on tickets into disposable income, the State promotes an economic stimulus that returns to society in the form of consumption and tax collection on products.”, explains professor Thiago Trindade.
INDIRECT SALARY
The researchers argue that, in the current scenario, the zero tariff could have as relevant a role for Brazil as the Bolsa Família Program had two decades ago, as it could represent a “indirect salary”.
This is because free provision would benefit vulnerable groups, the black population and those living on the outskirts.
According to the study, free education could be treated as a social right, along the lines of the SUS or Public Education. “The implementation of zero tariffs on a national scale would reinforce Brazil’s leading role at the forefront of global experiences in reducing inequalities and deepening democracy”.
FINANCING
The possibilities for financing a national free transport policy could include, according to UnB professors, in 2025, replacing the transport voucher system with another type of financing, initially for private and public companies that have more than ten employees.
The research group’s estimate is that 81.5% of establishments would be exempt from the contribution. “We can create a zero-tariff program without burdening the Union budget”, says Trindade.
This text was originally published by , on May 5, 2026, at 6:02 am. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the standard of Poder360.
