Over the postwar period in most developed countries, the university participation rate has risen steadily to well over 30 percent, although there remain differences between countries. Students from lower income families have lower participation rates than those from higher income families. The article provides an economic analysis of these…

Discusses six propositions concerning higher education contradicting prevailing pricing wisdom: high demand rarely drives prices up; market share increases rarely drive prices down; competition drives prices up; tuition prices are only loosely tied to delivery costs; student tuition is only loosely tied to price; and high tuition prices do not…

Using regression analysis on 1976-78 data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the author estimates demand and supply elasticities for nonpublic school tuition and enrollment. Application of the elasticities to data from a 1978 study indicates that federal tuition tax credits would be more costly than previously projected. (Author/RW)

Discusses factors affecting both school funding demand (including demographic changes and student needs) and the supply of educational funds (such as fiscal capacity and effort, state and local expenditures, and federal aid). Classifies states with favorable, average, and unfavorable funding prospects, based on state rankings for each factor. (RW)