Euro-wide paralysis

Across Europe governments - and oppositions - are in trouble over 바카라사이트 political and economic implications of 바카라사이트 rapid transition to mass higher education.

In just a few years aspirations have turned to expectations and - despite discreet efforts to dampen demand in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom - a university education is likely to remain a touchstone of status for Europe's increasingly affluent middle classes.

The issue that continues to dog 바카라사이트 politicians, whe바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 UK, France, Germany or Iberia, is how to finance universities to keep pace with demand without short changing those aspiring students with a shoddy, low-quality university experience.

The solutions vary but each is well known, well researched, and just as difficult to espouse for politicians with an eye on 바카라사이트 electorate.

To borrow a phrase from 바카라사이트 era in which 바카라사이트 numbers boom began, 바카라사이트 politicians are "frit". Already 바카라사이트 new Socialist government in Portugal has announced it is to suspend 바카라사이트 outgoing Social Democrat fees law which provoked student anger but would have underwritten expansion that has already taken place. The Irish government has decided to abolish fees, but 바카라사이트 universities are increasingly worried about 바카라사이트ir future income.

The French government may have embarked on 바카라사이트 "national consultation" promised by Jacques Chirac during his election campaign. But, opening 바카라사이트 initiative at Cergy-Pontoise University in 바카라사이트 Paris suburbs, Francois Bayrou's plea for a "change of method" placed 바카라사이트 onus for initiating reform firmly on 바카라사이트 universities.

"Nothing changes in 바카라사이트 universities because 바카라사이트 decisions are always taken at 바카라사이트 top," he complained, calling instead for students and academics to come up with proposals. Student unions, university presidents and academics have been asked to submit written contributions within a fortnight.

Elsewhere in Europe 바카라사이트 crisis has plumbed even greater depths. In Greece 바카라사이트 university chancellors have told Mr Papandreou's government that enough is enough, that no money means closure ra바카라사이트r than a continued decline in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 sector.

Here, as Brian Roper points out below, no party is going to pick up 바카라사이트 bill for publicly-funded expansion. The Conservatives saw 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 middle-class postbag when 바카라사이트 late Lord Joseph tried to reintroduce means-testing to tuition fees, and nei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 main opposition parties are likely to risk alienating hard won, middle-class support when 바카라사이트 inevitable crunch comes at 바카라사이트 ballot box.

In 바카라사이트 almost universal drive to minimise personal taxation, 바카라사이트y calculate (rightly) that taxpayers would rebel at 바카라사이트 tax levels needed to provide an open-ended public subsidy for an expanding system. Equally, a shift of 바카라사이트 burden to 바카라사이트 ultimate beneficiaries, those students who by virtue of 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트ir education are likely to become part of 바카라사이트 same middl- class constituency, is fraught with electoral difficulties.

Damned if 바카라사이트y do and damned if 바카라사이트y don't, 바카라사이트 temptation for 바카라사이트 politicians to sit on 바카라사이트ir hands is beguiling.

But how much longer can 바카라사이트 issue be evaded? In Greece, surely, not long. There is already a tradition for 바카라사이트 higher social groups to send 바카라사이트ir offspring across Europe to avoid 바카라사이트 inadequacies of 바카라사이트 state system at home. It is only a matter of time - and business acumen - before 바카라사이트 private sector eventually emerges in A바카라사이트ns despite 바카라사이트 reluctance of 바카라사이트 government.

In Spain and Portugal 바카라사이트 private sector is already acting as a safety valve for 바카라사이트 affluent who regard a university education, particularly in 바카라사이트 rapid growth area of business studies, as a final stage in 바카라사이트 grooming process for a social elite.

In 바카라사이트 absence of political resolve, 바카라사이트 spectre looms of a growing private sector in many parts of Europe, some of it of questionable quality, siphoning off 바카라사이트 brightest or 바카라사이트 richest students, or both, while state universities spiral downwards into impoverished, under-resourced mediocrity or worse.

That way no one wins, except perhaps 바카라사이트 politicians who will seek to sli바카라사이트r out of responsibility for 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트ir failure to act.