DOI: 10.36344/ccijhss.2018.v04i05.001

Pages: 98-102

Changes in the finance of HE introduced in the past twenty years include introduction of tuition fees or other charges in countries where HE tuition was previously free, substantial increases in tuition fees in several countries where they did previously exist, and changes in student aid systems, including in many countries a shift towards student loans to supplement or replace grants. Such changes have been the subject of controversy and debate. Many economists have contributed to this through individual research and publications, submissions to government committees considering changes in policy, or in work for international agencies such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the World Bank. This paper attempts to explore some of the manifestations of political influence in the funding of higher education.