A benefit-cost directional approach in higher education: Turkey example (2002-2006-2010)

Qualified man power and human capital has very important place for enhancing the economical and the social welfare of countries. Education, especially higher education is one of the most important means of reintroducing the individuals to society by entrusting them with sufficient knowledge and skills. Higher education also contributes to personal welfare thanks to enhancing the level of income individuals earn besides reintroducing the qualified man power to society and enhancing the social welfare. These benefits of higher education for the society and the individuals increase the higher education demand of the individuals day by day.Besides its benefits, the higher education also has specific costs with which the state and the individuals have to abide. Education costs are extremely important for education specialists and politicians. One of the methods of analysis to guide the educators and the individuals who perform education programs is benefit-cost analysis. Benefit-cost analysis, which is to measure the possible profits and benefits of continuing the higher education, is a criterion that compares the costs and the economical benefits abided to evaluate the economic profitability of an education project.In this study, it was tried to investigate the benefits and the costs for the individuals and the state by benefitting from the benefit-cost analysis. In the study, by benefitting from the data belonging to 2002-2006-2010 years, analyses of those years were also included. The study consists of three parts. In the first part, institutionalization approaches and welfare relations are discussed theoretically. In the second part, the structure and the historical development of higher education in Turkey were examined. In the last part, primarily social cost and benefit analysis of education investments and the welfare basis of the analysis are examined, and the analysis results were reached by the help of the data belonging to the relevant years in line with the purpose of the study, and the essential assessments were done.Keywords: Institutionalism, Higher Education Institution in Turkey, Benefit-Cost Analysis in Higher Education, Welfare Creator Effect of Education