PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON HIGHER EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN THE EC‐MEMBER STATES, 1975‐1990

Abstract

This article is an exercise in cross‐national comparative research on the financing of higher education, the countries involved being the EC countries. Before relevant comparisons could be made, agreement had to be reached as to what “higher education” is and what “students” are. It was then necessary to find some way of making accurate comparisons of monetary units and of dealing with contradictory ways in which educational statistics were and still are collected and collated. A research strategy was developed using existing sources, a specially developed questionnaire, and consultation with national experts. The results displayed biases for which corrections had to be made. They also, however, displayed a wide variety in the level of higher education expenditure in the EC countries. The project gave rise to the creation of the first comprehensive database that covers public expenditure on higher education in the twelve member states of the EC. It can be regarded as the first step in the creation of the “perfect database” on higher education expenditure which in turn would be a most valuable tool for higher education policy‐makers.

* This article summarizes a study commissioned by the Task Force on Human Resources, Education Training and Youth of the Commission of the European Communities which was completed by the Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) of the University of Twente (The Netherlands). The full report is being published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.

Notes

* This article summarizes a study commissioned by the Task Force on Human Resources, Education Training and Youth of the Commission of the European Communities which was completed by the Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) of the University of Twente (The Netherlands). The full report is being published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.