Observations on the re-emergence of a binary system in UK universities for economics degree programmes

An audit of economics provision shows that over the past decade economics has disappeared from large parts of the UK's higher education landscape, especially the post-1992 universities. In the north of Britain the binary system has effectively re-emerged leaving many potential students unable to study key subjects such as economics. Post-1992 institutions appear to have responded to forces in the higher education market by retreating from key subjects. The experience of economics shows how universities exercising their autonomy deal with complex issues such as the link between research and subject provision and the stratification of applicants along social class lines.