ERIC Number: EJ1043410
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Mar-24
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1938-5978
EISSN: N/A
Warren Recommendation on Student Debt: What Will Work to Help America's Students?
Gross, Karen
New England Journal of Higher Education, Mar 2014
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has had concerns about student debt for decades. Her recent solution seeks to redistribute tax revenue from the richest Americans to enable students to refinance their postgraduation indebtedness; this would allow students to benefit from the low interest rates in today's financial markets. The Massachusetts Democrat is right in noting that the inability of students to refinance--as opposed to consolidate--debt takes away a valuable tool in the repayment arsenal. Senator Warren's Robin Hood-esque proposal relies on private-sector dollars to enable refinancing. Warren thinks the burden should fall instead to the federal government to be a better lender with better products and better terms, and to colleges and universities to be better partners, particularly in lowering default rates and matching repayment options with graduates' needs. That would be good policy, better ensuring that students and graduates can thrive in the workplace and in their local communities. Warren feels that is, after all, what we hope education provides: insurance that our future is in good hands.
Descriptors: Debt (Financial), Student Loan Programs, Public Officials, Taxes, Loan Repayment, College Graduates, College Students, Federal Government
New England Board of Higher Education. 45 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111. Tel: 617-357-9620; Fax: 617-338-1577; e-mail: info@nebhe.org; Web site: http://www.nebhe.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A