| Title |
From policy to outcome: how economic conditions and national funding affect graduation rates: case of Lithuanian universities |
| Authors |
Židonė, Gintarė ; Krušinskas, Rytis |
| DOI |
10.3390/economies13060170 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Economies.. Basel : MDPI. 2025, vol. 13, iss. 6, art. no. 170, p. 1-20.. ISSN 2227-7099 |
| Keywords [eng] |
graduation rate ; public funding for higher education ; effectiveness of public education expenditure ; time-lag effects |
| Abstract [eng] |
This study examines how national public funding and macroeconomic conditions affect higher education performance, measured by graduation rates. A panel dataset covering 2013–2022 and ten Lithuanian public universities integrates economic, financial, and institutional variables. Lithuania applies a mixed higher education funding model that combines institutional support with elements of student-based financing, where part of the public resources follow individual enrollment patterns. Both immediate and lagged effects are analyzed using multiple regression models with time-lag factors. A review of academic literature indicates that increased funding does not necessarily lead to better outcomes; instead, the strategic allocation of resources to priority areas is particularly important. The results confirm that macroeconomic factors are statistically significant and that overall public funding does not have a positive impact unless it is allocated efficiently. On the contrary, funding directed toward research and infrastructure consistently shows a positive effect. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of education policy through lagged impact analysis. |
| Published |
Basel : MDPI |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2025 |
| CC license |
|
