Affordability may be estimated by relating net cost - the difference between private costs and financial assistance - to a measure of households’ ability to pay. However, few countries have sufficiently detailed survey data to provide such information (Murakami and Blom, 2008, Usher and Medow, 2010). This affordability index can be calculated for 71 countries across regions and country income groups. The World Bank's Skills toward Employment and Productivity (STEP) surveys provide information for 11 low and middle income countries on whether any household member received a government scholarship during the past 12 months (the education level supported is not specified).