Spain`s failed free education program

Spain, which has one of the four largest economies in Europe, introduced in 2004 a free college education system after the inauguration of a left-leaning government. Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of the Social Labor Party, who took power by pledging a “perfect welfare state,” expanded health insurance coverage to include the common cold and transgender surgery after raising the minimum wage and introducing free child care. Around seven years later, angry youngsters gave the ruling party a humiliating loss in elections last month. They benefited from free college education but disappointed over the youth unemployment rate of 45 percent, they staged anti-government demonstrations for days.

Spain’s public debts reached 60.1 percent of GDP as of late last year. Experts say the next country to receive a financial bailout will be Spain. A Spanish civil servant said, “I voted for Zapatero because I liked the idea of free education for children but saw my salary fall 20 percent.” A news report by a foreign media outlet featured 20-something Spainards complaining of no future for them. This could be the fate of Korea several years from now.

The growth pace of Korea’s national debt is the second highest among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. According to OECD statistics, Spain’s college admission ratio is 41 percent but Korea’s is as high as 61 percent. So if the Korean government covers even part of tuition, the country will incur a bigger financial burden than Spain. Despite this, both the ruling and opposition parties in Korea are competing to suggest “free policies,” including halving college tuition.

Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, participated in a rally for halving college tuition that attracted some 150 college students Monday. Participants there could be heard booing, with one asking, “What is the difference between the policies of the Democratic Party and the Grand National Party?” The next day, Sohn said, “We will seek to partially reflect the necessary budget in the second half through the supplementary budget to be fixed in June, and introduce halved tuition for all students from next year.”

Hwang Woo-yeo, floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party, said, “We will reduce tuition fees that colleges receive from students.” His comment is interpreted as intent to pressure colleges and universities to receive less tuition. With measures to mobilize the estimated billions of dollars in budget needed for such benefits yet to be found, politicians are raising their reckless betting on “tuition discounts.”

Chances are high that the price of populist welfare policies suggested in succession by politicians ahead of next year’s general and presidential elections will be borne entirely by the younger generation and their offspring. Can politicians afford to pledge free services in a country where one youth will have to support 1.5 senior citizens by 2030 amid the low birth rate and rapidly aging population? Do politicians want to pass on such burden to their children who are in their 20s and who will probably live another 60 to 70 years?