Some serious concerns regarding the growing role of higher education in the world-wide knowledge economy are that the neoliberalization of higher education is undermining higher education’s...Show moreSome serious concerns regarding the growing role of higher education in the world-wide knowledge economy are that the neoliberalization of higher education is undermining higher education’s contributions to the public good. This role of higher education historically has been seen as fostering economic development of nations and the provision of opportunities for individuals to promoting and harmonizing cultural diversity, political democracy, and economic trade. Critics allege higher education institutions worldwide, but especially in Latin America have become or are becoming handmaidens of neoliberal institutions, including neoliberal states and such global institutions as the world bank or the OECD (Rose 2003, 67-68). Is this true? If neoliberalization of higher education is indeed happening, do neoliberal reforms promote more inclusive higher education responsive to labor market needs? By addressing this research question, we can have a better understanding of the dynamics of higher education and their position within society. This might give more insight on a regional level of how these dynamics function, but it could also be an insight into the comparison with other developing regions.Show less
While theoretical literature on Varieties of Capitalism routinely labels Germany as an instance of a coordinated market economy, the apparent inability or unwillingness of the country’s government...Show moreWhile theoretical literature on Varieties of Capitalism routinely labels Germany as an instance of a coordinated market economy, the apparent inability or unwillingness of the country’s government to address deleterious effects and risks of financialisation raises important questions about the character of the country’s economic governance and how and to what extent it may be changing and why. Germany – the centre of Euro-capitalism - has failed to hold its banks accountable for various incidents of questionable behaviour during, before, and after the crisis, also in the context of the Cum-Ex tax scandal and the non-implementation of a financial transaction tax. While attempts at regulating finance have been ineffective in most countries, it nonetheless remains mostly unclear why states fail in the face of increasing inequality and widespread voter discontent with recent developments in German and European capitalism.Show less
