[Past Issues] [TOC]

Cross-Sectoral Competition and Conversions in the Mixed-Form Market of Postsecondary Education

Dr. Bonnie K. Fox Garrity and Roger C. Fiedler

The BRC Journal of Advances in Business

Volume 1

Number 2

Print ISSN: 2152-8616 Online ISSN: 2152-8667

Date: March 15, 2011

First Page 19

Last Page 36

Abstract

Mixed-form markets include public, not-for-profit, and for-profit providers competing within a specific industry. The cross-sectorial competition within mixed-form markets such as postsecondary education has increased as the constraints on providers have changed. As the competition has evolved, some providers have chosen to convert from one form of control to another, or have been acquired by a provider from a different sector. This study quantifies the changes in control in the postsecondary education industry over the past 15 years. The trends in the conversions data show that from 1994 to 2002 changes to not-for-profit status were the most common. However, since 2003 a majority of the changes each year have been from public or not-for-profit to for-profit status. In 2007, all conversions that occurred were from not-for-profit to for-profit status. The implications of the changes in constraints and cross- sectorial competition within this industry are examined within the framework of the mixed-form market literature.

Download Paper