Emergence and Diffusion of For-Profit Colleges and Universities, 1975–2012: A Population Ecology Approach

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: AERA 2016 Division J Section 3: Organization, Management, and Leadership Posters

Abstract

We utilize population ecology theory (PET) from organizational sociology to examine the emergence and diffusion of for-profit colleges and universities (FCPUs). The existing literature offer fragmented insights and is limited in empirical scope. PET helps overcome these problems to an important degree. We treat FCPUs as a new organizational population and test the central factors associated with the hazard (risk) of FCPU founding across 903 core based statistical areas in the U.S. from 1975 to 2012. We find that a variety of economic, geographic, and institutional factors were related to the diffusion of FCPUs. We address important directions for future research.

Authors

• Mary Abraham, The University of Kansas

• Argun Saatcioglu, The University of Kansas