Monday, February 22, 2010

Are College Degrees a "Bubble" Asset?

Debt Makes A Bubble


Two acknowledged bubbles have occurred within the past 10 years, the Technology/Nasdaq/.com bubble, and the housing bubble.


While each had different characteristics, they both had a common feature; an extra-ordinary growth of credit. Credit growth within a narrow asset class practically define bubbles.



Another defining feature is the growth of asset prices beyond rises in income.




So, Do We See This?


Yes. We do.



Valutarian's View:


My view is that since about 2001-2002, a college degree has cost too much, and delivered too little to qualify it as a "value" asset.


This is a very broad statement and caution should be applied to those who are pursuing degrees in professional and hard science fields.


sources:
http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/09/earnings_of_you.html
http://www.econbrowser.com/archives/2008/01/mortgage_securi.html#more