Getting Rid of Assortative Mating

4min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Universities provide a really great assortative mating service. Small groups give you leadership opportunities. The admissions office is giving this triple a, a certification that you're better than other people along the dimensions that we use to decide these things. And unsurprisingly, as the thing has become more valuable, the ability of wealthy people to game them has increased,. and the disparities have gotten larger.

In this c750th (!) episode, Duke University's Michael Munger talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about whether the pandemic might create an opportunity for colleges and universities to experiment and innovate. Munger is Professor of Political Science, Economics and Public Policy at Duke. He believes "top" schools can emerge from the current period of uncertainty to thrive in the long run. The path for "second-tier" institutions could be more difficult. They will still face the challenges that existed before the pandemic: competition from online classes and a shrinking pool of new applicants ready to pay high tuition bills.