A new approach is suggested that depends on and measures how spending on higher and basic education is really an investment in the future, not consumption spending. This is a vital distinction because investment in human capital contributes heavily to growth and development, but also to higher state tax revenue and lower Medicaid, child care,…

A college education has long been acknowledged as essential for both personal success and economic growth. But the measurable value of its nonmonetary benefits has until now been poorly understood. Walter W. McMahon, a leading education economist, carefully describes these benefits and suggests that higher education accrues significant social and…

This paper considers several opportunities for research on the means of relating investment in higher education more closely to widely expressed desires for faster economic growth and for greater equity in educational opportunity. It does this against a background of policy issues related to growth and equity among income groups common to the…

Discusses the overall efficiency of investment in primary and secondary education and technology transfer via investment both in physical capital and higher education in 30 of the poorest African countries. A high (21.2 percent) rate of return to investment in primary and secondary education was found. Includes six tables and 20 references. (MLH)

In this document, differences in what students expect to earn and what the census data indicates is eventually being earned at each age is considered. The difference between private returns and social rates of return is defined and reported by occupational field. Finally, the primary emphasis on why students and their families invest in graduate…