Legislador ruim tem em todo lugar (principalmente os que aumentam impostos)

Quem foi que disse que só no Brasil é que tem legislador ruim?  E principalmente os que gostam de abocanhar a riqueza gerada pelos outros (através de impostos)?

Pois bem; vejam só o que os legisladores de Massachusetts estão propondo! Eles estão querendo passar legislação para cobrar um imposto de 2,5% ao ano sobre os endowments (os dotes, doações) que as universidades recebem (e detêm) e que excedam US$ 1 bilhão, como a Harvard University, que detém um endowment de US$ 35 bi!

Vejam só (abaixo) o que o Prof. Greg Mankiw está propondo (no seu blog) se isto acontecer!  Se isto ocorrer mesmo, vou enviar um convite à Harvard University para instalar um campus aqui no Recife.  O problema de convites como estes é que a tchurma da oposição num instante se rebelaria criticando a invasão dos ianques, que estariam “solapando o sistema brasileiro de educação superior”!.

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Friday, May 09, 2008

Time for Harvard to Move?

The Wall Street Journal reports one of the most pernicious ideas I have heard of late:

Massachusetts legislators, demonstrating a growing resentment against the wealth of elite universities in tight economic times, are studying a plan to levy a 2.5% annual tax on the portion of college endowments that exceed $1 billion.

The effort takes aim at one of the primary economic engines of the state, which is home to nine universities with endowments that surpass the $1 billion level, led by Harvard University’s $35 billion cache, the nation’s largest….

Supporters said the proposal would raise $1.4 billion a year. Based on the most recent size of Harvard’s endowment, the university would have to shell out more than $840 million annually.

If this were to pass, here is what I would consider:

 

1. Instead of expanding the university into Alston, Harvard could create a second campus in another state. Call it Harvard South. (Put it in a better climate than Boston, and I would be one of the first faculty to volunteer for the move.)

2. Transfer much of the endowment to Harvard South. Support Harvard North by slowly selling off land in Massachusetts.

3. Eventually, make Harvard South the main campus, and Harvard North the satellite. If Massachusetts state lawmakers remain hostile, close Harvard North down entirely.

I have often wondered what the efficient scale of a university is and, in particular, whether it would be better to create a second Harvard with the university’s wealth than to expand the first one. Maybe the Massachusetts state legislature will give the powers-that-be at Harvard an incentive to consider more radical expansion plans.