College degrees are largely positional goods. A good chunk of the value of a college degree is that you get hired preferentially over an otherwise equally quali

College degrees are largely positional goods. A good chunk of the value of a college degree is that you get hired preferentially over an otherwise equally qualified candidate without a degree, or with a less prestigious degree. The US higher education system is an excellent example as to what happens when you subsidize positional goods. Daycare workers and firefighters are starting to be a college-degree-required position. They're not there yet, fortunately, but it's absolutely ridiculous. The solution has three parts: 1. Expand the examination system used in places like actuarial work and civil service to encompass a broader range of skills. 2. Declare a student loan debt jubilee. 3. Add a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for college degrees, or otherwise shut down the ability for college degrees to matter in resumes. Banning colleges and other organizations from confirming whether or not a student actually got a degree is a good start.