Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the determinants of taking out government-funded student loans for university study in Australia. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses an ordered probit model to quantify the influence of the various factors which affect students' decisions on...

Examines the social aspects of the compatibility of public academic education with the principles of a free society. Discusses state education with regard to “equal treatment for all” and the question of who will benefit from such treatment.

Describes briefly the personal histories and important professional association of Gustav Schmoller and Friedrich Althoff emphasizing their innovatory period 1870-1882 at Strasburg.

Friedrich Althoff (1839-1908), who created the “Althoff system”, has had a singularly important influence on shaping academic institutions in Germany for almost a generation. As a close collaborator of leading German scholars his influence lasted almost throughout the second empire...

Discusses the factors relating to the success of Friedrich Althoff as an innovator (or entrepreneur), within the nineteenth century bureaucratic Prussian public administration, that enabled him to be the driving force in the building of the university system. These include acquiring control over...

Argues that the autonomy of the Althoff administration was based on the “personal regime” of Friedrich Althoff. The public choice approach of bureaucratic behaviour reveals the basis for this autonomy: professionalism and continuity. Manageable span of control and entrepreneurship...

Discusses the defensiveness of professions, the confusion of professional status and expertise with superior human qualities, the “democratization” of learning, and the nature of scientific endeavour. Notes that the bulk of professional scientists are not doing anything significant in the...

With respect to the guiding “ideas” of Humboldt and their consequences for the constitution of science, describes the transition to a modern research university with the emergence of theory-based practice, science-based technology and technology-based industry. The pure research imperative...