The Perception of Higher Education as a Public Good: The Case of Hong Kong

Abstract

Higher education has long been seen as a public good that is crucial for the development of a nation-state and the generation of wealth. However, recent years have witnessed growing public concerns in many developed economies over the quality and marketization of higher education. Through an original telephone survey of a representative sample of Hong Kong’s population, this chapter discusses the public perception toward higher education in one of Asia’s global cities. The results suggest that the majority of the population considers higher education as a private good in which the students should be largely responsible for the cost of their education. Further analyses suggest that this perception is more popular among those who have received less education and have a lower income.