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An equity perspective on access to, enrolment in and finance of tertiary education

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  • Rita Asplund
  • Oussama Ben Adbelkarim
  • Ali Skalli

Abstract

Failure to achieve equitable access to university studies has contributed to turning the focus to the funding of higher education systems. This paper aims to review critically the literature assessing the effectiveness of existing financing schemes and changes in them as a means for reducing the prevalent under-representation of students from a socially disadvantaged background. While the theoretical literature fails to be consensual with respect to the equity effects of student funding schemes, empirical studies remain scarce and inconclusive due to the lack of harmonized data that comprehensively describe the social make-up of higher education attendees. For reasons of space, references are kept at a minimum but can be found elsewhere.1

Suggested Citation

  • Rita Asplund & Oussama Ben Adbelkarim & Ali Skalli, 2008. "An equity perspective on access to, enrolment in and finance of tertiary education," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 261-274.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:16:y:2008:i:3:p:261-274
    DOI: 10.1080/09645290802338102
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    Cited by:

    1. Herbst, Mikolaj & Rok, Jakub, 2011. "Equity in an educational boom: Lessons from the expansion and marketization of tertiary schooling in Poland," MPRA Paper 33795, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Mikaela Backman & Lina Bjerke, 2014. "Returns to higher education: a regional perspective," Chapters, in: Charlie Karlsson & Börje Johansson & Kiyoshi Kobayashi & Roger R. Stough (ed.), Knowledge, Innovation and Space, chapter 10, pages 237-264, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Jin Chen & Don Hossler, 2017. "The Effects of Financial Aid on College Success of Two-Year Beginning Nontraditional Students," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 58(1), pages 40-76, February.
    4. Mikolaj Herbst & Jakub Rok, 2011. "Equity of access to higher education in the transforming economy. Evidence from Poland," Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación volume 6, in: Antonio Caparrós Ruiz (ed.), Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación 6, edition 1, volume 6, chapter 29, pages 475-494, Asociación de Economía de la Educación.
    5. Denny, Kevin, 2014. "The effect of abolishing university tuition costs: Evidence from Ireland," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 26-33.
    6. Rita Asplund & Oussama Ben Adbelkarim & Ali Skalli, 2008. "An equity perspective on access to, enrolment in and finance of tertiary education," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 261-274.
    7. Adriana Díaz & Camilo Olaya, 2017. "An Engineering View for Social Systems: Agency as an Operational Principle for Designing Higher Education Access Policies," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(6), pages 627-649, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    equity; finance; access; enrolment; tertiary education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I22 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Educational Finance; Financial Aid

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