The design of the educational system affects the degree of students’ equality of opportunities and the intergenerational social mobility. The topic is therefore of paramount importance. In this paper, we document differences in educational systems among OECD countries and argue that the system observed in a country is the result of a complex interaction between preferences for education and political competition. To analyse individual preferences over education funding, we build a model that allows us to study the effects of public funding on the welfare of agents, which are heterogeneous in terms of income and human capital. The model takes into account the hierarchical nature of the educational system and emphasises the role played by family background. Our theoretical results might help to explain why some OECD countries seem to remain stuck in “low education” traps.
Differences in education systems across OECD countries: the role of education policy preferences in a hierarchical system
TEDESCHI, SIMONE
2016-01-01
Abstract
The design of the educational system affects the degree of students’ equality of opportunities and the intergenerational social mobility. The topic is therefore of paramount importance. In this paper, we document differences in educational systems among OECD countries and argue that the system observed in a country is the result of a complex interaction between preferences for education and political competition. To analyse individual preferences over education funding, we build a model that allows us to study the effects of public funding on the welfare of agents, which are heterogeneous in terms of income and human capital. The model takes into account the hierarchical nature of the educational system and emphasises the role played by family background. Our theoretical results might help to explain why some OECD countries seem to remain stuck in “low education” traps.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
