In Prof. Mankiw's new blog, he said a Boston Globe article reminded him that he is actually "working in an export industry". A wild thought jumped into my mind when I finished reading the article---
* if the Higher Education system in the US is so competitive (almost like a pure oligopoly) in the global market,
* assume it will, and is able to, maintain its advantage for a long time,
* assume the market provides mechanism to allow higher ed institutions commercialize their services worldwide, which means, the profit they make from both domestic and international students will be enough to survive them and make them grow,
* assume the US Homeland Security Department invented a new background check system to allow real students can get to the US freely as long as they pass the check,
Will US be the manufacture center of the world producing all post-secondary students?
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2 comments:
US doesn't have a total monopoly now. Other Anglo-Saxon countries tend to have strong "export" oriented higher education sectors and many have more foreign students per capita. When, if ever, do you think China will develop a similar depth and breadth of research universities as the US? From your post I'd venture a guess that the answer is "not soon." If that's so why? What factors do you see most inhibiting China's accession in the world of top level research universities. Also, do you think there are any Asian countries that may serve as a good blue print for how China's higher education sector is likely to develop? If so, please describe their experience and what it say about where China's higher education sector may be in 5 yrs, 10 yrs and beyond.
Yes you are right that other English speaking countries such as UK, Canada, Australia, etc. are also major players in the global market for oversea education. Even Japan and China, as far as I know, also made national policies to make "World-Class Universities" and draw talents from worldwide. However you have to see that due to tight board security after 9'11, US is not as open as other Anglo-Saxon countries, having a national policy supporting this unique "exporting industry". My post was based on several strict assumptions with one emphasizing that if the students global mobility are (almost) equal, they will vote US institutions by their feet with much more favor than to other places.
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