The Sensitivity of Capital Use to Price in Higher Education

Abstract

We test whether U.S. colleges and universities adjust their physical capital intensity to differences in factor prices by regressing the square feet of space per student on construction prices across institutions. The results indicate that physical space at selective liberal arts colleges and private comprehensive universities is unresponsive to relative factor prices. At public universities comprehensive universities the evidence suggests that students enjoy more space where building costs are lower. We are unable to explain a relationship for two-year colleges.