Who shall pay for the public good? Comparative trends in the funding crisis of public higher education (original) (raw)

This paper examines the evolving landscape of public higher education funding over the past two decades, highlighting trends in public and private investment in various countries, including the US, UK, and South Africa. It argues that while public funding has not always been directly linked to increased access or quality of education, recent shifts towards privatization, particularly through tuition fees, have significant implications for social equity and the mission of public universities. The paper aims to engage in a comparative discussion around these transformations and their enduring effects on the public nature of higher education.