There's an assumption in the title (obviously) that appeals to a popular argument on HN, but the article itself is not conclusive: university graduates still m

There's an assumption in the title (obviously) that appeals to a popular argument on HN, but the article itself is not conclusive: university graduates still make around 70% more than non-graduates suggests that demand for skilled workers still far exceeds supply. / Yet governments may actually be overestimating the economic benefits of higher education. The article says the economic returns could be overestimated do to the social benefits of college. I certainly agree about the social benefits, and I think we need college open to all: First, it's really about wealth and class; these economic arguments are a BS distraction to a significant degree (though not entirely). I know of schools in rich districts where 95% go to college, and in poor districts only miles away where it's maybe 5%. What does that have to do with economic and social benefits? Why should those social and economic benefits go to kids in rich districts? The expansion of college means expanding it to the poor district; I don't hear wealthy parents saying that their own kids shouldn't go, or that their district should send fewer to college; the argument against college is really an argument to not expand the same opportunities to the working class and poor. For social/political reasons (racism, maintaining political power) and self-interest (not paying taxes), there are even some who don't want the poor kids to get the opportunity; it's an nascent aristocracy protecting itself, which is incompatible with democracy (which is why people like Thiel are against democracy and education) - though certainly that doesn't apply to all critics and criticisms, we also shouldn't pretend it's not an issue. Second, in the land(s) of opportunity, why are we suddenly rationing it through central planning? Let people advance themselves and go to college if they want to; give them the chance to advance themselves by making college available to them, the best one they can get into. Who are you or I to tell them they shouldn't go because we don't think it's economically worthwhile?