Overview
- Examines the many ways economic theories and concepts can be applied to higher education
- Provides background and explanations of key economic concepts for non-economists
- Focuses exclusively on the field of higher education
- Analyses how higher education policies affect the behaviour of students, faculty and institutions
- Reviews the contributions economists have made to the study of higher education
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
Keywords
- Association for Institutional Research
- college choice
- community colleges
- econometrics
- economic concepts
- economic principles
- economics
- education policy analysis
- educational policy
- faculty and graduate students in higher education
- four-year colleges
- higher education policy makers
- institutional sector
- labor economics
- leadership studies
- market for higher education
- non-economists
- private colleges
- public policy
- research universities
About this book
"Toutkoushian and Paulsen attempted a daunting task: to write a book on the economics of higher education for non-economists that is also useful to economists. A book that could be used for reference and as a textbook for higher education classes in economics, finance, and policy. They accomplish this tough balancing act with stunning success in a large volume that will serve as the go-to place for anyone interested in the history and current thinking on the economics of higher education.”
William E. Becker, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Economics, Indiana University
Reviews
“Toutkoushian and Paulsen attempted a daunting task: to write a book on the economics of higher education for non-economists that is also useful to economists. A book that could be used for reference and as a textbook for higher education classes in economics, finance, and policy. They accomplish this tough balancing act with stunning success in a large volume that will serve as the go-to place for anyone interested in the history and current thinking on the economics of higher education.” (Prof. Emeritus William E. Becker, Jr., Economics, Indiana University)
“The authors have produced a very readable book that higher education administrators, faculty, and graduate students, as well as scholars interested in the economics of higher education should want to read. They have succeeded in explaining key economic concepts in a simple fashion and integrated into the book summaries of the best research on higher education and their views on potential policy changes.” (Prof. Ronald G. Ehrenberg, Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics, Cornell Higher Education Research Institute)
“In this volume, Toutkoushian and Paulsen provide not only foundational information on the economics and finances of colleges and universities, but also creative insights on new ways economic and financial ideas might be applied productively in this arena. The authors' presentation is straightforward and on point, covering core concerns like pricing, demand, and cost analysis as well as more specific issues like decentralized budgeting, tuition discounting, and MOOCs. The volume will surely become a valued resource for leaders, policymakers, and researchers interested in higher education policies and operations.” (Prof. James C. Hearn, Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia)
“I have taught a graduate level course on the Economics and Finance of Higher Education for more than twenty years. During this time period I have systematically looked for a resource book that would make economic thinking accessible to graduate students without a background in economics or finance. I have found isolated sources on rates of return, higher education markets; supply and demand as it relates to student enrollment and the selection of student majors. I have found individual sources on sources on higher education finance, and on budgeting systems. However, I have never found a single comprehensive source that covers the full range of these topics and more. This volume will become the primary textbook for similar courses in the United States and quite likely many other countries around the globe. It is an excellent resource that I enthusiastically recommend.” (Prof. Don Hossler, School of Education, Indiana University)
“This book, which is considerably more than a textbook on the economics of higher education, goes a long way in helping individuals outside the field understand the pricing and stratification of the product we call "higher education." Numerous examples from studies enliven and enrich the discussion. Data released in the fall of 2015 showing the relationship between earnings and college education across the spectrum of four-year institutions make the book a particularly relevant read for anyone interested in the field.” (Prof. Paula E. Stephan, National Bureau of Economic Research, Georgia State University)
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Michael B. Paulsen is a professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at The University of Iowa. He has a
PhD in higher education and economics from The University of Iowa and an MA in economics from the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), where he specialized in labor economics, public sector economics, and economics of education. Prior to his faculty appointment at The University of Iowa, he was a professor of higher education at the Universities of Illinois, Alabama, and New Orleans; and a professor of economics at St. Ambrose University. In addition to his faculty appointment, Dr. Paulsen serves as the Series Editor of the scholarly book series Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research; a consulting editor for Research in Higher Education and the ASHE Higher Education Reports. He has over sixty publications—books, journal articles, book chapters—including his book The Finance of Higher Education. His publications in economics of higher education have focused on college choice, tuition inflation, effects of prices/subsidies on student persistence, higher education costs, growth in workforce productivity, demand for higher education, and effects of financial conditions on curricular change.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Economics of Higher Education
Book Subtitle: Background, Concepts, and Applications
Authors: Robert K. Toutkoushian, Michael B Paulsen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7506-9
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-94-017-7504-5Published: 29 March 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-94-024-1364-9Published: 25 April 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-94-017-7506-9Published: 18 March 2016
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XI, 390
Number of Illustrations: 17 b/w illustrations, 53 illustrations in colour
Topics: Higher Education, Microeconomics, Educational Policy and Politics, Public Economics