The essay looks critically at the recent reforms of the secondary school and university, partly in the light of the July Budget. The impression given by the details of these reforms is that budgeting considerations have prevailed over supposed criteria of improving quality and efficiency. What is certain is the limited funds for both school and university, with ageing, demotivated and ill-paid staff. The educational process is the motor of a community’s development, and also a formidable promoter of social mobility if properly planned and administered. The recent reforms do not seem to be moving in this direction.only subscribers can see the full article

This work presents some reflections on expenditure on the various levels of education compared both with other countries and with the different areas of Italy. In the latter case the paper presents the main evidence that has emerged from the reconstruction of public expenditure in education considering the contributions from all the different bodies concerned (central government, Regions, local councils). It also analyses the territorial gap as it emerges from various samples carried out at various ages and suggests that the difference in resources available might help explain this gap.only subscribers can see the full article