Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2016, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (6): 180-208.

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Does Higher Education Expansion Promote Intergenerational Mobility?

YANG Zhongchao   

  1. Department of School Management, National Academy of Education Administration
  • Online:2016-11-20 Published:2016-11-20
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China (71473007).

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Abstract:

Education is an important path for upward intergenerational mobility. Higher education expansion in China has brought an ever increasing number of people to colleges and universities with a hope to improve their socio-economic status. Based on the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) of 2005,2006, and 2008, this study focuses on the impact of higher education expansion on intergenerational mobility among the college graduates who entered the job market during the post-economic reform period. No substantial evidences are found in this study to indicate a correlation between higher education expansion and intergenerational mobility. Although university education remains a key factor determining individuals' socio-economic status,the higher education expansion in China has not equalized the existing inequality of educational opportunity,nor has it changed the disparity in family background. Family socio-economic status continues to be a significant determinant for college graduates in the Chinese job market.Therefore,the expansion has increased the percentage of college graduates in the total population but it does not alter the intergenerational mobility structure in society. This study also finds that higher education has a dual function of status circulation and status reproduction. The increase of college graduates has diminished the social and economic return of a college degree and thus has an adverse effect on status circulation. The study concludes that higher education expansion for more educational distribution alone will not promote intergenerational mobility. An effort to improve job market and equal employment opportunity is equally important.

Key words: socio-economic status, intergenerational mobility, educational expansion, higher education