A Degree of Waste: the economic benefits of educational expansion

National innovation and knowledge performance: the role of higher education teaching and training

“…In contrast, some scholars argue that in a globalized world, size is not necessarily positively associated with performance (Murphy, 1993). Dore (1976) posits that expanding higher education often leads to a poorer quality of that education, and to a quest for diploma rather than true skill.…”

Profitable Learning: a note on Murphy's reply to Johnes

“…And a recent CBI report, Thinking Ahead (1994), which calls for further expansion of higher education, argues that: 'Higher education is a prime source of highly skilled people, a key contributor to a dynamic economy and central to the future competitiveness of UK business'. On the other hand, James Murphy (1993, andagain in 1994) has recently argued in this Review that the belief 'which sees the expansion of higher education as benefiting the country economically ... is no longer defensible'. A recent report from the London School of Economics (Bennett, Glennerster & Nevison, 1993) both implies in its title (Learning Should Pay), and argues, that 'the financial returns to post-compulsory education and training are mixed ...…”

A Waste of Resources? Social Rates of Return to Higher Education in the 1990s

“…There has been considerable debate concerning the benefits or otherwise of the 1990s' expansion of higher education in the UK (see, for example, CBI, 1994;Johnes, 1993b;Keep & Mayhew, 1996;Murphy, 1993Murphy, , 1994), yet, despite its significance, there has been no attempt to examine the human capital underpinnings of continued expansion from the perspective of society.…”