Stratification in Higher Education
A Comparative Study
Published on 23. April 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
504 pages
978-0-8047-7152-8 (ISBN)
Description
The mass expansion of higher education is one of the most important social transformations of the second half of the twentieth century. In this book, scholars from 15 countries, representing Western and Eastern Europe, East Asia, Israel, Australia, and the United States, assess the links between this expansion and inequality in the national context.
Contrary to most expectations, the authors show that as access to higher education expands, all social classes benefit. Neither greater diversification nor privatization in higher education results in greater inequality. In some cases, especially where the most advantaged already have significant access to higher education, opportunities increase most for persons from disadvantaged origins. Also, during the late twentieth century, opportunities for women increased faster than those for men. Offering a new spin on conventional wisdom, this book shows how all social classes benefit from the expansion of higher education.
Contrary to most expectations, the authors show that as access to higher education expands, all social classes benefit. Neither greater diversification nor privatization in higher education results in greater inequality. In some cases, especially where the most advantaged already have significant access to higher education, opportunities increase most for persons from disadvantaged origins. Also, during the late twentieth century, opportunities for women increased faster than those for men. Offering a new spin on conventional wisdom, this book shows how all social classes benefit from the expansion of higher education.
Reviews / Votes
"This book represents a very important source of scholars interested in the effects of education on inequality."-Lancaster University "Each of these findings is far more variable and nuanced than a short summary can suggest. The case studies then increase our understanding of the interaction among all these variables... This work is so engrossing and enlightening that... [i]f the findings presented here were to be carefully studied, thought through and applied to changes in our postsecondary systems, a welcome drop in inequality might result."-Canadian Journal of Sociology "This book is likely to serve as a watershed. It represents the first incorporation of labor market datasets from 15 countries (Israel, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Australia, the Czech Republic, and Italy) to test a common set of propositions... This book provides strong evidence for supporting the expansion of higher education on the traditional grounds of providing social opportunity. Expanding the "educational pie" is an equalizing force, and neither private financing nor diversity in purpose and quality is inconsistent with inclusion and social equity. This creative and insightful analysis should become standard reading in all programs of higher education concerned with expansion and social equity."-Review of Higher Education "This book provides rich details about the institutional arrangements, history, and issues related to funding and access in higher education systems throughout the industrialized world. Its comprehensive comparative analysis of major changes occurring in higher education everywhere offers insights into stratification and educational expansion that will provoke debate and spark future research." -Claudia Buchmann, The Ohio State University "This volume provides a model of conceptually rich and methodologically rigorous analyses of the expansion of higher education and its implications for social outcomes. It represents collaborative research at its best. The insights generated by this research suggest social policies that should further broaden access to higher education."-Maureen T. Hallinan, Director, Center for Research on Educational Opportunity, University of Notre DameMore details
Series
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Palo Alto
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
86 tables, 34 figures
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
703 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8047-7152-8 (9780804771528)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Yossi Shavit is Professor of Sociology at Tel Aviv University and Head of the B. I. and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research. Richard Arum is Professor of Sociology and Education at New York University. Adam Gamoran is Professor of Sociology and Educational Policy Studies and Director of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Content
Contents Preface Contributors Chapter One More Inclusion Than Diversion: Expansion, Differentiation, and Market Structure in Higher Education Richard Arum, Adam Gamoran, and Yossi Shavit Part One Diversified Systems Chapter Two Israel: Diversification, Expansion and Inequality in Higher Education Yossi Shavit, Hanna Ayalon, Svetlana Bolotin-Chachashvili, and Gila Menahem Chapter Three Japan: Educational Expansion and Inequality in Access to Higher Education Hiroshi Ishida Chapter Four Korea: Educational Expansion and Inequality of Opportunity for Higher Education Hyunjoon Park Chapter Five Sweden: Why Educational Expansion Is Not Such a Great Strategy for Equality--Theory and Evidence Jan O. Jonsson and Robert Erikson Chapter Six Taiwan: Higher Education--Expansion and Equality of Educational Opportunity Shu-Ling Tsai and Yossi Shavit Chapter Seven United States: Changes in Higher Education and Social Stratification Josipa Roksa, Eric Grodsky, Richard Arum, and Adam Gamoran Part Two: Binary Systems Chapter Eight Great Britain: Higher Education Expansion and Reform--Changing Educational Inequalities Sin Yi Cheung and Muriel Egerton Chapter Nine France: Mass and Class--Persisting Inequalities in Post-Secondary Education Pauline Givord and Dominique Goux Chapter Ten Germany: Institutional Change and Inequalities of Access in Higher Education Karl Ulrich Mayer, Walter M'ller, and Reinhard Pollak Chapter Eleven Netherlands: Access to Higher Education--Institutional Arrangements and Inequality of Opportunity. Susanne Rijken, Ineke Maas, and Harry B.G. Ganzeboom Chapter Twelve Russia: Stratification in Post-Secondary Russian Education Since the Second World War Theodore P. Gerber Chapter Thirteen Switzerland: Tertiary Education Expansion and Social Marlis Buchmann, Stefan Sacchi, Markus Lamprecht, and Hanspeter Stamm Part Three: Unitary and Other Systems Chapter Fourteen Australia: Changes in Socioeconomic Inequalities in University Participation Gary N. Marks and Julie McMillan Chapter Fifteen Czech Republic: Structural Growth of Inequality in Access to Higher Petr Mat_j_, Blanka _eh kov , and Natalie Simonov Chapter Sixteen Italy: Expansion, Reform and Social Inequality in Higher Education. Ettore Recchi Appendix: Supplemental Tables Notes Bibliography Index