With budget time fast approaching, the leaks, fears, and work-shopping ideas in the media is in full swing. It has been suggested that Education is again in the cross-hairs. This time instead of making the states pay a greater proportion of the costs of educating school students, the target returns to the University sector. The most recent data from the ABS, notes that the real expenditure on higher education has basically plateaued since 2010-11. With real costs constant, the proposal is that a 2-3% efficiency measure will be introduced over a number of years. While those with HECS debt will be targeted to replay loans faster. This current suggestion comes at a time when business tax breaks are under review in a climate where there is a international ratcheting to the bottom. With a proposed absence of revenue from business, which in the absence of any additional revenue raised from the trickle down zombie, means that somethings need to be cut.
Education is one way of tackling inequality but decreasing funding may only increasing the gap between those who have access to good education and those that don't. While the OECD may have pointed out those risks for Australia's primary and secondary education. the arguments concerning subsequent economic harm do not diminish when tertiary education funding is reduced. In summary, business gain from well educated individuals, as output and productivity increases in relation to education. Subsequently education can be seen as a business subsidy. So if the government was truly trying to improve economic productivity, perhaps its time to introduce an education levy on businesses. Comments are closed.
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AuthorDavid Adamson Archives
February 2019
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