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The Economics of the UK University System in the Time of Covid-19

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  • Peter Dolton

Abstract

The UK University system faces its biggest challenge in 40 years as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. What is the scale of the uncertainty facing universities and to what extent have the problems been exacerbated by the over-reliance on overseas student fee income to facilitate a declining central government investment in research? Is the 'marketization' of the Higher Education (HE) sector over the last 20 years partly to blame? We take stock of what universities contribute, why the present pandemic matters and who will be most affected. The potential consequences of Covid-19 for the UK HE sector are analysed along with mitigations, opportunities and possible solutions. It is suggested that the UK HE system cannot continue to be reliant on overseas fees to prop up research.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Dolton, 2020. "The Economics of the UK University System in the Time of Covid-19," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Policy Papers 19, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:nsr:niesrp:19
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dolton, Peter J & Makepeace, G H, 1990. "The Earnings of Economics Graduates," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 100(399), pages 237-250, March.
    2. Moretti, Enrico, 2004. "Estimating the social return to higher education: evidence from longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 121(1-2), pages 175-212.
    3. Dolton, Peter & Vignoles, Anna, 2000. "The incidence and effects of overeducation in the U.K. graduate labour market," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 179-198, April.
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    6. Herbert W. Marsh & John Hattie, 2002. "The Relation between Research Productivity and Teaching Effectiveness," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 73(5), pages 603-641, September.
    7. Philip Oreopoulos & Till von Wachter & Andrew Heisz, 2012. "The Short- and Long-Term Career Effects of Graduating in a Recession," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(1), pages 1-29, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anastasios Hadjisolomou & Fotios Mitsakis & Steven Gary, 2022. "Too Scared to Go Sick: Precarious Academic Work and ‘Presenteeism Culture’ in the UK Higher Education Sector During the Covid-19 Pandemic," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 36(3), pages 569-579, June.

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