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I think the problem is not a lack of funding. Economically, the more you spend on a problem like this, the less you get back for every dollar spent. This isn’t

by zaroth 6y ago

I think the problem is not a lack of funding. Economically, the more you spend on a problem like this, the less you get back for every dollar spent. This isn’t a manufacturing problem where cost decreases with scale. Throwing more dollars at this will just decrease the average outcome per dollar. A part of the problem is just the notion that everyone should even be going to two or four year university. > In 2017, state and local governments spent $297 billion, or 10 percent of state and local direct general spending, on higher education. Higher education was the third-largest source of state and local direct general spending in 2017, roughly equal to spending on health and hospitals. > At the post-secondary level, the United States spent more than the average (1.5%) for OECD countries on total government and private expenditures at 2.6%. Only three other countries spent 2% or more of GDP on post-secondary education. Those countries were Canada at 2.4%, Australia at 2%, and Chile at 2%. https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/cross-center-initiatives/state-and-local-finance-initiative/state-and-local-backgrounders/higher-education-expenditures https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/cross-center-initiative... https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/020915/what-country-spends-most-education.asp https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/020915/what-country...

lotsofpulp 6y ago
>In 1977, state and local governments spent $105 billion on higher education (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars). In 2017, they spent $297 billion. >Higher education spending has remained relatively constant as a share of total state and local spending over time. In both 1977 and 2017, 10 percent of direct state and local direct general expenditures went to higher education. According to the source below, there are at least twice as many people attending higher education between 1977 and 2017, not including the ones who do not complete 4 or more years of college: https://www.statista.com/statistics/184272/educational-attainment-of-college-diploma-or-higher-by-gender/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/184272/educational-attai... There's obviously a ton of waste in the system, such as the college sports business that has nothing to do with education and is clearly a taxpayer subsidy for private interests. But it seems like taxpayer spending per student is down quite a bit (can't include taxpayer backed loans, of course). And I definitely agree, there is no need for everyone to go to a 4 year liberal arts school.
imtringued 6y ago
>A part of the problem is just the notion that everyone should even be going to two or four year university. That would require structural reforms to fix the economy or to provide an alternative education path that is tied to economic productivity. In other words it is not going to happen.

by zaroth 6y ago

lotsofpulp 6y ago

>In 1977, state and local governments spent $105 billion on higher education (in 2017 inflation-adjusted dollars). In 2017, they spent $297 billion. >Higher education spending has remained relatively constant as a share of total state and local spending over time. In both 1977 and 2017, 10 percent of direct state and local direct general expenditures went to higher education. According to the source below, there are at least twice as many people attending higher education between 1977 and 2017, not including the ones who do not complete 4 or more years of college: https://www.statista.com/statistics/184272/educational-attainment-of-college-diploma-or-higher-by-gender/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/184272/educational-attai... There's obviously a ton of waste in the system, such as the college sports business that has nothing to do with education and is clearly a taxpayer subsidy for private interests. But it seems like taxpayer spending per student is down quite a bit (can't include taxpayer backed loans, of course). And I definitely agree, there is no need for everyone to go to a 4 year liberal arts school.

imtringued 6y ago

>A part of the problem is just the notion that everyone should even be going to two or four year university. That would require structural reforms to fix the economy or to provide an alternative education path that is tied to economic productivity. In other words it is not going to happen.