Incrementalism and economic, demographic, and political conditions related to state appropriations to higher education: A study of 50 states from 1960 to 1985.

This study examines factors related to total state appropriations to public four year colleges and universities in each of 50 states during 1960-85. Overall, the prior year is the most closely related to each subsequent year's appropriations. There are breaks ("breakpoints") in the past-present relationship that can be measured statistically. Using piecewise linear regression, the study notes each of the years when the relationship shifted. The study also examined the statistical relationships between state appropriations to higher education and seven economic, five demographic, and two political factors. Each state differed on the specific variables which were significantly related to higher education appropriations. However, among all states, the prior year was most closely related even when combined with other external variables. Beyond that, economic factors as a group were most closely related to state higher education appropriations, demographic factors were next, and political factors were least related. Cluster analysis was used and the states clustered into five groups according to the relationship between external (economic, demographic, and political) factors and their higher education appropriations. The single factor which best differentiated the five clusters is the regression coefficient for enrollment.PhDHigher Education financeUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162223/1/8920581.pd