Free higher education and its effects on access: Case of Ecuador

Abstract

The present research analyzes the effect of free education on access to higher education in Ecuador. It begins with a review of the literature on access and free education, and examines the main studies conducted on Ecuador. The empirical section is then developed using the data corresponding to the Urban and Rural Employment and Unemployment Survey (ENEMDUR) for 2007-2017, and Probit models are used to estimate the probability of access to higher education and its marginal effects. The main results are related to a positive effect of the free higher education on access at a general level, with emphasis on marginalized groups, although it has been affected by the additional measures associated with merit and quality.