The Harvard Hedge Fund?

A blog post by Matthew Yglesias ’03 has sparked quite a lively debate about whether Harvard deserves its tax-exempt status...

A blog post by Matthew Yglesias ’03 has sparked quite a lively debate about whether Harvard deserves its tax-exempt status. This is all a response to a bill being debated in the Massachusetts legislature to tax college endowments exceeding $1 billion.

Yglesias, a blogger for TheAtlantic.com, starts by quoting another blogger's comparison of Harvard's endowment to "a $40 billion tax-free hedge fund with a very large marketing and PR arm called Harvard University." Comments from site visitors draw in a cornucopia of related issues: tuition, financial aid, admissions policies, the general role of elite universities in society.

You can even add your two cents if you scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Related topics

You might also like

A new book explores the Harvard-trained architect’s vision and impact, from Ground Zero to the Smithsonian.

David Battat promotes alumni engagement.

Derek Bok donated his car for a good cause.

Most popular

The stakes are high for this husband and wife: one of them will die if they don’t find a cure.

Eldo Kim ’16 charged in Harvard bomb threat

Eldo Kim ’16 was allegedly trying to avoid a final exam.

A former Harvard College writing tutor changes her mind on LLMs.

Explore More From Current Issue

Runners compete on a track, with a Harvard athlete in the foreground and others behind.

After a historic 2025-26 season, athletes eye NCAA championships.

Colorful word cloud with various emotions and ideas related to learning and reflection.

But it can’t replace human connection.

A woman with curly blonde hair sits casually against a stone wall, wearing a black top and jeans.

Chloe Chapin trains her Broadway costume designer’s eye on the history of men’s fashion.