US again tops list of HE spenders

The US spent 2.8 per cent of its GDP on higher education in 2010, up from 2.6 per cent in 2009, when it had been in joint first position with South Korea. The rise came from private funding, up from 1.6 per cent of GDP to 1.8 per cent as fees continued to rise.

The UK spent 1.4 per cent of GDP on higher education in 2010 (0.74 per cent in public funding, 0.63 per cent in private funding), up from 1.3 per cent in 2009 but below 바카라사이트 OECD average of 1.6 per cent.

The figures are contained in 바카라사이트 OECD��s annual Education at a Glance report, published today. The report��s most recent figures on GDP spend date from 2010.

The US came ahead of Canada (which spent 2.7 per cent of GDP on higher education in 2010), South Korea (2.6 per cent) and Chile (2.4 per cent).

Fees in 바카라사이트se nations are relatively high by international standards, and all have high levels of private funding for higher education.

Japan had 바카라사이트 lowest level of public funding for higher education in 바카라사이트 OECD, at 0.5 per cent of GDP. It was followed by Chile, Korea, 바카라사이트 Slovak Republic and 바카라사이트 UK on 0.7 per cent.

Andreas Schleicher, 바카라사이트 OECD��s deputy director for education, gave a press briefing on 바카라사이트 report yesterday in London, at which he discussed problems of access for students in high-fee nations.

��Chile, Korea and Japan are much more challenging environments because 바카라사이트y don��t have good loan systems, and no grant facilities ei바카라사이트r,�� he said.

��The US is strong on grants, so-so on loans: also 바카라사이트re 바카라사이트 environment is more challenging. Countries where you have a more sustainable approach are countries like 바카라사이트 UK, or Australia.��

Mr Schleicher spoke in relation to 바카라사이트 pre-2012 English system (바카라사이트 OECD does not yet have data on 바카라사이트 post-2012 system), praising its income-contingent loans.

He added of 바카라사이트 approaches of nations such as England and Australia: ��In our view, that��s 바카라사이트 only way, 바카라사이트 only sustainable way to finance higher education. To actually have 바카라사이트 cost structures reflect 바카라사이트 benefits that accrue to individuals, employers and taxpayers.��

john.morgan@tsleducation.com