Discussion of Olson & Phillips “For- Profit and Not-for-Profit Universities: A Comparative Analysis” Cameron M. Weber PhD Student in Economics and Historical Studies, New School for Social Research Adjunct Professor, Tobin School, SJU

Discussion of Olson & Phillips Is the objective of the paper clearly stated? Yes Is the literature review focused on the objective of the paper? Yes Is the methodology used reasonable and well explained? Yes (with comments to follow) Is the data sufficient for the analysis performed? Yes Is the interpretation of the data reasonable? Yes (with comments to follow)

Discussion of Olson & Phillips Main critiques of method and interpretation 1)Federal funding attached to individual students not to specific FPs, whereas NFP R&D funding attached to the university. 2)Unclear as to where public universities fit within classification schema (they are not FPs nor NFPs (?) ). 3)Analysis omits accounting for NFP tax-breaks and taxes paid by FPs. 4)Larger issue on question of college degrees as leading to competitiveness (vocational v. “liberal arts”).

Discussion of Olson & Phillips Sources: College Board; Mark Kantrowitz, Fastweb.com Debt LevelsTuition

Discussion of Olson & Phillips

Olson & Phillips Discussion Daphne Kenyon & Adam Langley The Property Tax Exemption for Nonprofits and Revenue Implications for Cities. Nonprofits.pdf real-estate/ Harvy Lipman The Value of a Tax Break. Chronicle of Philanthropy. 11/23/2006, Vol. 19 Issue 4 Molly F. Sherlock and Jane G. Gravelle An overview of the nonprofit and charitable sector. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

Olson & Phillips Discussion Kenyon & Langley 2011 cite work that property tax foregone due to the Not-for-Profit exemption is between 4 and 8% of all property taxes, or, around $17 to $32 billion (for USA 2009). Sherlock and Gravelle 2009 find that 21% of NFP assets are owned by Higher Education. Thus “back-of-envelope” is that Higher Education NFPs receive between $3.5 and $6.5 billion in tax forgiveness.

Olson & Phillips Discussion Note default rates increase for all classes default_n_ html

Olson & Phillips Discussion Question on practicality of research question: Might not FPs and NFPs be two separate, incomparable markets? NFPs are for traditional, younger students, whereas FPs fill more vocational niche for older working students seeking weekend, online, and nearby-located classes with part-time instructors engaged in same line of work?