Long abstract

About Statistics Publications & Documents Information by Country

Contrary to popular belief, there is significant trade in higher educational services: a rough estimate puts the value of this trade at about $US 30 billions in 1999, equivalent to 3 percent of total services trade in OECD countries. This figure takes only into account students studying abroad and is undoubtedly an underestimate of the current level of trade in education services. Cross-border e-learning activities and the establishment of campuses and teaching facilities abroad are growing rapidly, although from a low level.

The forces of comparative advantage have already identified some OECD countries that are leading net exporters of such services and other countries can reap the potential gains from such trade. Based on the limited available data, Australia appears to be the most competitive exporter in the market of educational services followed by New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States in that order.