ABSTRACT
If we compare the university systems in the United States, England, and Germany, we see significant differences resulting from the countries' different historical legacies. Nevertheless, a trend of convergence is beginning to emerge on different historical paths in the wake of the current wave of restructuring in higher education and research according to the principles of New Public Management (NPM). There is, above all, fiercer competition among universities for funds, staffing, and students leading to more accentuated stratification (Michael and Kretovics 2005).
