Markets in education

Education is becoming a marketed economic commodity (or rather, a number of different commodities), especially in post-school institutions. Although most production of education remains in the public sector, a mixed market-non-market system is emerging in place of the old model of administered output. This chapter describes the end of free tertiary education, the rise of overseas marketing and postgraduate fees, the debate about student loans, the growing role of commercial research and fee for service in TAFE, and the proposals for vouchers. It also reviews the effects and the implications of commercialisation.