FGV Study Shows Lei Rouanet Returns R$7.59 to Economy for Every R$1 Invested
Study finds Lei Rouanet cultural funding returns R$7.59 to economy per R$1 invested and created 230,000 jobs in 2024.
- • Every R$1 invested via Lei Rouanet returns R$7.59 to the economy according to FGV study.
- • Projects increased from 2,600 in 2022 to over 14,000 in 2024, mobilizing R$25.7 billion.
- • 230,000 jobs created in 2024 with an average cost of R$12,300 per job.
- • Most funding allocated to logistics, administration, and artist payments; Southeast leads in funding.
- • Project approval times reduced from 100+ days to 35 days by 2025, with regional growth in Northeast and North.
Key details
A new study by Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), commissioned by Brazil's Ministry of Culture, reveals a remarkable economic impact of the Lei Rouanet cultural funding program. According to the research, every R$1 invested through Lei Rouanet returns R$7.59 to the Brazilian economy.
Between 2022 and 2024, the number of projects supported by the law grew from 2,600 to over 14,000 annually, mobilizing R$25.7 billion in 2024 alone. This influx primarily concentrated in the Southeast region, which received R$18 billion, followed by the South (R$4.5 billion), Northeast (R$1.92 billion), Central-West (R$400 million), and North (R$360 million).
The funding generated approximately 230,000 jobs in 2024 at an average cost of R$12,300 per job. Most projects (86.7%) were proposed by companies, and nearly 77% raised up to R$1 million. Importantly, about one-third of funds went directly to artists, while the majority was allocated to logistics and administrative costs. Payments under R$25,000 represented 96.9% of total disbursements, pointing to a strong redistributive effect.
The study also observed a reduction in project approval times from over 100 days in 2022 to 35 days by 2025, with significant project growth in the Northeast and North regions. Minister Margareth Menezes highlighted the importance of this data to counteract unwarranted criticisms of Lei Rouanet, which has seen over R$60 billion invested since 1993.
Looking forward, the Ministry plans to promote medium-sized companies in less-funded areas and conduct further studies on cultural funding mechanisms like Lei Aldir Blanc.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
