ABSTRACT
Despite the universal and growing importance of higher education, the policies and techniques for public fi nancing and budgeting vary dramatically among countries, among the 50 United States, and over time. These differences have been shaped by many factors, including changing public needs and goals; the blend of personal and public benefi ts derived from higher education; public administration practices and fads; competition among institutions of higher education; and the ebb and fl ow of competing social priorities (Layzell & Lyddon, 1990).
