The institutionalization of a public policy. The case of free access to Ecuadorian higher education (2008-2018)

Abstract

There is a minority Latin American’ governments that have undertaken formal and sustained attempts to promote free access to higher education. As a result, inequalities regarding access are persistent. Since 2008 Ecuador became part of this minority. This document argues that the more pro-equity policies are institutionalized, the better the access conditions for lagging socioeconomic sectors. With this objective, it is interesting to understand under what conditions free access policy got stabilized in Ecuador. To do this, a theoretical causal mechanism is built based on the analytical framework of policy design. The method employed is process tracing, supported by evidence that is organized from policy instruments taxonomy. One of the findings shows a “formal” institutionalization process, mainly driven by state actors, with a limited margin for participation by other educational actors.