Dramatic Declines in Higher Education Appropriations: State Conditions for Budget Punctuations

Gender, legislative experience, and party affiliation: Examining the relationship between state legislator attributes and funding for higher education

“…Other studies since then using similar measures have had similar results, finding that higher education funding tends to increase with a rise in the relative presence of higher education interest groups and decrease with higher numbers of non-higher education interest groups (Li, 2016;McLendon et al, 2009).…”

“…In line with the balance wheel hypothesis, several studies have found that healthy economies, as signaled by higher levels of gross state product (GSP) per capita and median household income, lead to increased state higher education funding (Tandberg, 2010a;Tandberg, Fowles, & McLendon, 2017;Toutkoushian & Hollis, 1998). Conversely, indicators of poor economies, such as growth in populations in poverty and unemployment rates, both place constraints on state resources and increase demands on states to provide other social supports, which make state policymakers more inclined to cut funding for higher education (Dar & Lee, 2014;Kane, Orszag, & Hunter, 2003;Li, 2016;McLendon et al, 2009;Rizzo, 2005;Tandberg et al, 2017;Toutkoushian & Hollis, 1998;Weerts & Ronca, 2012).…”

“…Closely tied to the health of state economies, income inequality also influences state higher education expenditures. Often using a Gini coefficient, which provides an index of each state's income distribution on a continuum from zero (perfect income equality) to one (perfect inequality), several studies have shown that increased income inequality within states leads to higher levels of funding for higher education (Li, 2016;Rizzo, 2005;Tandberg, 2010a). Scholars have speculated that this relationship arises in states with more income disparity because these states may attempt to expand higher education affordability and access as a strategy for correcting such inequities (Li, 2016;Tandberg, 2010a).…”

“…Research has also examined whether the same party controlling both legislative chambers influences state expenditures on higher education. A number of studies (Li, 2016;Rizzo, 2005;Tandberg, 2010a) have revealed that uniparty legislatures foster reduced funding for higher education. Tandberg (2010) posited that this stems from unified governments facing less legislative gridlock in attempting to decrease higher education funding when faced with the need to make budget cuts.…”

“…Several studies have utilized a binary term limits variable to examine the relationship between legislative turnover and experience and higher education funding (Li, 2016;McLendon et al, 2009;Tandberg, 2010a). McLendon et al (2009), for example, demonstrated that term limits have a positive effect on higher education funding.…”