Education And Economics: Disciplinary Evolution And Policy Discourse

Educational policies and practices are increasingly viewed as central to development concerns such as achieving growth with equality, tackling unemployment, redefining the role of the government in the social sector, and globalization of the knowledge economy. This book deconstructs the interface between economic theory and education to unravel how education contributes to socio-economic development. Moving beyond the human capital approach of neoclassical economics, the author employs alternative theoretical perspectives to analyse the linkages between education and society. With a unique blend of theory and policy, the author engages with a wide range of topical issues such as • the relationship between quality of education and economic growth; • the nature of competition in the education market; • funding, delivery, and regulation of education; and • globalization of higher education and the entry of foreign education providers. Analysing the challenges facing the Indian education system and the policies being mooted against the back of economic liberalization, the author argues that there is an urgent need to reconcile the goals of efficiency in resource use and competitiveness in the global knowledge economy with that of inclusive growth.