Report: High school dropouts cost economy billions

Associated Press ^ | Feb 25, 2013 5:07 PM EST | Philip Elliott

[Olog-hai]

High school dropouts are costing some $1.8 billion in lost tax revenue every year, education advocates said in a report released Monday.

If states were to increase their graduation rates, state and federal lawmakers could be plugging their budgets with workers’ taxes instead of furloughing teachers, closing drivers-license offices and cutting unemployment benefits. While advocates tend to focus on the moral argument that all children deserve a quality education, they could just as easily look at budgets’ bottom lines. …

Lawmakers in state capitols are making tough choices about whether to raise taxes to keep classroom lights on or to sell off state agencies to provide health care to seniors. Federal officials, meanwhile, are looking at some $85 billion in automatic spending cuts that are set to take hold at the end of the week. …

[Chickensoup]

High school drop outs do not cost the economy billions.

Regulations not permitting young teens to get jobs, marry, licences, and own property and drink at 18 costs the economy billions as we enfantalize those who want to get on with life while the laws protect insuracne and school jobs.

[cripplecreek]

The Facts on Subsidized College Degrees

When the government subsidizes higher education, it becomes cheaper for people to access, so more people apply. The demand for college rises, which in turn drives the price of tuition up. At the same time, as the price of college rises, politicians are urged to spend more as universities become more empowered and invested in making sure those appropriations keep coming.

Students also are less likely to pay attention to their ability to actually afford what they are purchasing, let alone have a sense of the value of their degree.