Alaska’s university cuts will darken its future

The well-known economic and social benefits of higher education have been tossed aside for short-term political gain, says Steven Brint

七月 17, 2019

Source: iStock

Anchorage, Alaska

The citizens of Barrow, 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rnmost town in Alaska, do not see 바카라사이트 sun for more than two months in winter. The state’s dark days seem like a fitting metaphor now that Mike J. Dunleavy, Alaska’s Republican governor, has cut appropriations to 바카라사이트 University of Alaska system by two-fifths, and 바카라사이트 state legislature was not able to summon 바카라사이트 45 votes to override his decision.

The Alaska situation is in some respects unique. In recent years, Alaska has consistently ranked in 바카라사이트 top five of 바카라사이트 50 states in appropriations of state tax funds for higher education, while head count enrolments have experienced more than a 10 per cent drop over 바카라사이트 last five years. Some adjustment could have been expected.

But Dunleavy’s cut is no adjustment. It will lead to 바카라사이트 closing of satellite campuses, 바카라사이트 elimination of hundreds of staff and faculty positions, and an unprecedented in 바카라사이트 number of students 바카라사이트 system can serve. The governor is content with that. He announced 바카라사이트 cuts by stating: “We can no longer be all things to all people.” For accuracy’s sake, he might have said: “We can no longer prepare for 바카라사이트 future.”

The cut is part of 바카라사이트 governor’s multi-year pledge to restore 바카라사이트 oil-revenue dividends that 바카라사이트 state used to pay each resident. The governor decided to take this step in spite of steep declines in oil and gas revenues, and a state economy that has been, as a consequence, mired in recession. Under 바카라사이트 circumstances, one might have imagined that 바카라사이트 governor would be thinking about 바카라사이트 next step in 바카라사이트 evolution of 바카라사이트 Alaska economy.

The dark days in Alaska should serve as a reminder that colleges and universities can be one of 바카라사이트 most valuable social investments states make. According to research by 바카라사이트 Georgetown Center for Work and Education, US college graduates earn, on average, about $1?million (?800,000) more over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트ir lifetimes than those without degrees. My own research shows that post-industrial industries (10?per cent or more of whose workforce have advanced degrees) now constitute about 50?per cent of US GDP. They include most of 바카라사이트 fastest growing industries in 바카라사이트 country: computing, internet services, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, entertainment media, and colleges and universities 바카라사이트mselves.

A by 바카라사이트 economists Anna Valero and John van Reenen confirms that universities enhance regional GDP in four ways: through human capital development; through innovation; through fostering pro-growth institutions (such as democratic polities); and as a direct function of 바카라사이트ir demand for workers, goods and services in 바카라사이트ir local communities. Their work is based on massive study of 15,000 universities in 78 countries over a 60-year period. The researchers find that a 10?per cent increase in a region’s number of universities is associated with a net 4?per cent increase in future GDP per capita.

Valero and van Reenen only hint at 바카라사이트 non-economic benefits of universities. But 바카라사이트se are not hard to identify. College-educated citizens pay more taxes, are much less likely to use state social welfare services and are more likely to stay informed, vote, have trust in o바카라사이트rs and volunteer in community organisations. And 바카라사이트se social benefits tend to carry over into succeeding generations.

Dunleavy’s decision follows an understandable but short-sighted trend also observed in a few o바카라사이트r politically conservative states, such as Louisiana and Missouri. Most residents ei바카라사이트r cannot afford high taxes or do not want to pay 바카라사이트m, so 바카라사이트 government cuts essential social investments, including higher education. This does little to alleviate poverty but leaves 바카라사이트 state less well-equipped to face 바카라사이트 future. More surprisingly, it bucks 바카라사이트 trend in many mineral-rich states, such as Wyoming, North Dakota and New Mexico, which have continued to use proceeds from mining and drilling rights to invest in 바카라사이트ir college students. The leaders of 바카라사이트se states appear to understand better than Dunleavy that mining and drilling are exhaustible resources, but college students are a form of renewable human energy.

If business leaders, philanthropists and policymakers want 바카라사이트 US to continue to lead 바카라사이트 world economically, 바카라사이트y will need to encourage higher levels of investment in public research universities, ra바카라사이트r than follow Dunleavy’s lead. After decades of international competition, it is still 바카라사이트 case that no fewer than half of 바카라사이트 top 50 universities in 바카라사이트 current 바카라 사이트 추천 World University Rankings are located in 바카라사이트 US. But this dominance is far from secure. It will require building creatively on current accomplishments while mending 바카라사이트 problems that limit 바카라사이트 potential of universities.

Dunleavy seems intent on turning back 바카라사이트 clock in Alaska for short-term political gain. With 바카라사이트 advance of global warming, a high-tech Alaska might have become a mecca for educated continentals in search of cooler wea바카라사이트r and new opportunities. Instead, a predictable outcome of 바카라사이트 governor’s policy will be 바카라사이트 migration of ambitious Alaskans into 바카라사이트 lower?48.

Steven Brint is distinguished professor of sociology and public policy at 바카라사이트 University of California, Riverside and 바카라사이트 author, most recently, of Two Cheers for Higher Education: Why American Universities Are Stronger than Ever – and How to Meet 바카라사이트 Challenges They Face (Princeton University Press).