Economic Challenges in Higher Education

by Charles T. Clotfelter, Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Malcolm Getz, John J. Siegfried

Overview

The last two decades have been a turbulent period for American higher education, with profound demographic shifts, gyrating salaries, and marked changes in the economy. While enrollments rose about 50% in that period, sharp increases in tuition and fees at colleges and universities provoke accusations of inefficiency, even outright institutional greed and irresponsibility. As the 1990s progress, surpluses in the academic labor supply may give way to shortages in many fields, but will there be enough new Ph.D.'s to go around?

Drawing on the authors' experience as economists and educators, this book offers an accessible analysis of three crucial economic issues: the growth and composition of undergraduate enrollments, the supply of faculty in the academic labor market, and the cost of operating colleges and universities. The study provides valuable insights for administrators and scholars of education.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780226110622
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Publication date:	04/15/2008
Series:	National Bureau of Economic Research Monograph
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	432
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Charles T. Clotfelter, formerly vice chancellor, is professor of public policy studies and economics at the Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs at Duke University. Ronald G. Ehrenberg is the Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics at Cornell University. Malcolm Getz is associate professor of economics and associate provost for information science and technology at Vaderbilt University. John J. Siegfried is professor of economics at Vaderbilt University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I - Demand for Undergraduate Education
Charles T. Clotfelter
1. Size and Significance
2. Patterns of Enrollment and Completion
3. Explaining the Demand
4. Financial Aid and Public Policy
5. Implications of Recent Enrollment
Part II - Academic Labor Supply
Ronald G. Ehrenberg
6. Projections of Shortages
7. A Stock Flow Model of Academic Labor Supply
8. Decisions to Undertake and Complete Doctoral Study and Choices of Sector of Employment
9. The Demographic Distribution of American Doctorates
10. Should Policies Be Pursued to Increase the Flow of New Doctorates?
Part III - Costs and Productivity in American Colleges and Universities
Malcolm Getz and John J. Siegfried
11. Cost Inflation
12. Where Does the Money Go?
13. Costs and Enrollment
14. Costs per Student over Time
References
Author Index
Subject Index

Editorial Reviews

Drawing upon the authors' (Clotfelter, Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Malcolm Getz, and John J. Siegfried) experience as economists and educators, this book offers an accessible analysis of three economic issues that will greatly influence the future of all institutions of higher learning: the growth and composition of undergraduate enrollments, the supply of faculty in the academic labor market, and the skyrocketing cost of operating colleges and universities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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