This work investigates how the global knowledge economy fundamentally alters the structures, purposes, and social impacts of contemporary higher education. The authors, led by Jane Kenway and Elizabeth Fahey, utilize a critical sociological framework to examine the intersection of neoliberal policy and academic labor. They argue that the pressure to commodify knowledge creates a 'haunting' effect, where traditional academic values are persistently shadowed by market-driven imperatives and performative metrics.

Scholars in the field of sociology of education frequently cite this text for its rigorous critique of institutional transformation. Experts highlight the book as a foundational resource for understanding the systemic pressures currently shaping academic environments worldwide.