TY - JOUR
T1 - Incomplete equalization
T2 - The effect of tracking in secondary education on educational inequality
AU - Holm, Anders
AU - Jæger, Mads Meier
AU - Karlson, Kristian Bernt
AU - Reimer, David
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - This paper tests whether the existence of vocationally oriented tracks within a traditionally academically oriented upper education system reduces socioeconomic inequalities in educational attainment. Based on a statistical model of educational transitions and data on two entire cohorts of Danish youth, we find that (1) the vocationally oriented tracks are less socially selective than the traditional academic track; (2) attending the vocationally oriented tracks has a negative effect on the likelihood of enrolling in higher education; and (3) in the aggregate the vocationally oriented tracks improve access to lower-tier higher education for low-SES students. These findings point to an interesting paradox in that tracking has adverse effects at the micro-level but equalizes educational opportunities at the macro-level. We also discuss whether similar mechanisms might exist in other educational systems.
AB - This paper tests whether the existence of vocationally oriented tracks within a traditionally academically oriented upper education system reduces socioeconomic inequalities in educational attainment. Based on a statistical model of educational transitions and data on two entire cohorts of Danish youth, we find that (1) the vocationally oriented tracks are less socially selective than the traditional academic track; (2) attending the vocationally oriented tracks has a negative effect on the likelihood of enrolling in higher education; and (3) in the aggregate the vocationally oriented tracks improve access to lower-tier higher education for low-SES students. These findings point to an interesting paradox in that tracking has adverse effects at the micro-level but equalizes educational opportunities at the macro-level. We also discuss whether similar mechanisms might exist in other educational systems.
KW - Educational transitions
KW - Mixed logit
KW - Socioeconomic inequalities
KW - Tracking
KW - Vocational education
KW - Faculty of Social Sciences
KW - Socioeconomic inequalities
KW - Tracking
KW - Educational transitions
KW - Vocational education
KW - Mixed logit
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880672034&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2013.06.001
DO - 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2013.06.001
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 24090843
AN - SCOPUS:84880672034
SN - 0049-089X
VL - 42
SP - 1431
EP - 1442
JO - Social Science Research
JF - Social Science Research
IS - 6
ER -
