> I think education as an industry is going to go into decline, but I don't see companies like Coursera as being able to thrive by feeding off the corpses. Peo

> I think education as an industry is going to go into decline, but I don't see companies like Coursera as being able to thrive by feeding off the corpses. People have been saying that for years and yet there is little data to back it up. If anything in economic downturns people are more likely to go back to school so as not to waste the time being unemployed. The fact that Coursera is doing so well during this downturn indicates to me that the industry is just going to transform, not necessarily decline. At least in # of people touched, although revenue might decrease in aggregate. People need the motivation that comes from organized education, whether it be Coursera or college.