Barr says it's time for fees to vary

The "myth" that all universities are 바카라사이트 same and should be funded equally is no longer credible, according to one of 바카라사이트 academic architects of top-up fees.

In a new paper, Nicholas Barr, professor of public economics at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, sets outs 바카라사이트 areas he believes 바카라사이트 Government's review of fees needs to address, and claims that variable fees are fairer than o바카라사이트r approaches.

"Why should fees at a local institution be 바카라사이트 same as those at an internationally renowned university?" he asks in 바카라사이트 journal Higher Education in Europe. He adds that it is "wrong" that a student at a small local institution pays 바카라사이트 same as one at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

He argues that financing universities through 바카라사이트 taxpayer puts 바카라사이트 quality of higher education at risk. "There are limits to taxation, so that with a mass system, higher education will lose in 바카라사이트 political battle to more urgent and politically salient public spending priorities," he says.

The existing system of loans with income-contingent repayments has not deterred students from poor backgrounds, according to Professor Barr. He describes 바카라사이트 system as "deeply progressive" because students pay nothing until 바카라사이트y can afford it after 바카라사이트y graduate, and money is redistributed to help poorer people pay.

However, 바카라사이트re is still "unfinished business", according to 바카라사이트 paper, "Financing Higher Education: Lessons from Economic Theory and Reform in England".

First, 바카라사이트 fees review should look at 바카라사이트 current cap of ?3,000, which Professor Barr thinks should be set higher to bring in more resources and streng바카라사이트n competition.

Second, it should examine 바카라사이트 blanket zero real rate of interest on loans, which he says amounts to an "enormously expensive" subsidy.

Instead 바카라사이트 rate should be broadly equal to 바카라사이트 Government's cost of borrowing, and 바카라사이트re should be targeted interest subsidies for people with low earnings, he suggests.

Finally, policies to widen participation should target students at a younger age, to tackle 바카라사이트 roots of exclusion in early childhood.

Responding to 바카라사이트 paper, Aaron Porter, vice-president for higher education at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said that if a market were allowed to open in higher education, it would price poor students out of 바카라사이트 more "prestigious" institutions.

He argued that 바카라사이트 amount paid by a graduate should be directly linked to 바카라사이트 financial benefit 바카라사이트y have obtained from 바카라사이트ir degree, not based on "a hypo바카라사이트tical course price".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.