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Abstract

All young adults have a morally significant interest in having adequate opportunity for ambition formation. At present governments typically spend large amounts in support of young adults, such as in the form of higher education subsidies, but we do not ask if this expenditure is the most equitable way of ensuring adequate opportunity for ambition formation for all young adults. Would it be more equitable and desirable to use the resources to pay every young adult a capital grant on maturity rather than for higher education subsidies? The article considers a range of arguments against this basic capital proposal and in defence of education subsidies. It concludes that the case for the basic capital policy is strong, although it is not possible to say that it is definitely preferable in the absence of empirical research that is beyond the scope of this article.

Keywords

basic capital stakeholding stakeholder grants higher education

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A Modest Proposal? Basic Capital vs. Higher Education Subsidies

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