The most widely recognised benefit from individuals completing a Higher Education is the ability to earn a higher income. Typically higher incomes will be taxed at a higher level benefiting the wider community by improved programs and services. Not only do individuals gain from a higher education, it has far reaching effects on the larger community. Individuals with a higher education level generally do not rely on government programs, are less likely to be incarcerated, are more likely to be engaged in community activities, less likely to have poor health and generally engage more with their children in their education. By completing a higher education it creates a cascade effect within society leading to further increasing the outcome of each benefit that it may bring to the general community.
“Bynner and colleagues believed that ‘Graduates not only contribute to the economy but to the cohesiveness of society and demonstrate the attributes of active citizenship’” (WEEK 9READING). The broader benefits generated by individuals obtaining a higher education are relatively easy to exhibit. * Individuals with a higher education are likely to have careers that provide or enable them to purchase private health insurance and retirement/superannuation benefits than those individuals without further education. Thus with improved preventative health care they tend to live longer healthier lives without needing to access any government funded healthcare or assistance. The average life expectancy of an Australian is 82 years, (ref) this is two years higher than the OECD average of 80 years. These statistics reinforce the point that having a higher education level can impact the individual, the community and also at a national level. Within higher income groups individuals with a higher education level report that they are in excellent or good health. * Healthier lifestyles lead to reduced public spending on social and health programs, thus reducing the cost of government spending. In the United States adults aged between 25 and 64 have an educational level equivalent to a degree or higher(figures 1.8a ).Individuasl with a higher education level are less likely to be obese, including the children of households holding a higher education level are also less likely than other children to be obese (figure 1.18