A Macro/Meso/Micro Analysis of the Student Loan Debt Problem in the United States
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the U.S. student loan debt crisis through historical context and a macro/meso/micro-framework. The 1970s and 1980s marked a significant transition from grants to loans, driven by neoliberal views of higher education as a private good, increasing the financial burden on students. I use Yingyao and Polillo’s (2016) framework for understanding power to explore how student loan debt is experienced at macro, meso, and micro levels. There is a particular focus on how students and the federal government put universities in the position of navigating competing demands from students and the federal government. Recent trends, such as free community college programs and growing public support for loan forgiveness, indicate a cultural shift toward recognizing higher education as a public good. However, systemic changes are needed to address debt inequities and reduce the financial burden on students. I call for a reimagining of cost-sharing dynamics and a renewed commitment to higher education as a societal investment rather than an individual responsibility.
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