The Relationship Between Higher Education and Economic Well-Being

An interesting report that discusses the linkages between Higher Education and both economic development and individual benefits, with special consideration for the State of Arizona. Some interesting conclusions:

- Educated workers make a net positive contribution to government budgets, and they help to raise the wages of all workers in an area;
- Public and/or private investments that lead to tangible increases in degree attainment stand to deliver significant returns to the students that earn the degrees and to the economies where they ultimately live and work;
- One condition for local production of degrees to translate into high educational attainment in the adult population is that students must be able to find jobs in the state after they graduate;
- In general, a state is more likely to generate new jobs for graduates receiving degrees in engineering and science than it is for people acquiring skills for the delivery of local services such as public education and health care;

Full report available here