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Title: Politics, Interest Groups and State Funding of Public Higher Education

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2009

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Abstract: State support of public higher education has rapidly declined relative to totalstate spending. Much of this decline in support is due to the rapid growth in spending onsuch things as Medicaid. However, relative support of public higher education variessignificantly between states. This study applies Tandbergs (2009) fiscal policy frameworkcreated to explain state support of public higher education in order to evaluate the relationshipbetween various factors and states relative support of higher education. WhileTandbergs fiscal policy framework accounts for traditional economic and demographicfactors in explaining state support for higher education, it also draws attention to politicalinfluences as well including the impact of state-level interest groups. Using cross-sectionaltime-series analysis these relationships are explored over a 19-year period. The findingsprovide evidence of the significant impact of interest groups and politics on state fiscalpolicy in regard to higher education.

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Authors: Tandberg, David A.

Periodical (Full): Research in Higher Education

Issue: 5

Volume: 51

Pages: 416-450

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education

Countries: United States