ABSTRACT

Can information close socioeconomic gaps in parents’ postsecondary aspirations for their children? We administer a survey experiment to a nationally representative sample of U.S. parents, who are also asked whether their child is academically prepared for college. We inquire whether parents prefer their child to pursue a four-year degree, two-year degree, or no further education. Some parents are also randomly told the costs of college for an individual in their state and income bracket; local labor-market returns to a degree; or both costs and returns. Information closes socioeconomic aspiration gaps only if parents believe their child is ready for college.

摘要

信息能否弥补父母对子女的中学后志向的社会经济差距？我们对美国父母在全国范围内具有代表性的样本进行了一项调查实验，这些父母还被问及他们的孩子是否已为上大学做好学业准备。我们询问父母是否更喜欢孩子攻读四年制学位，两年制学位，或者不接受进一步的教育。还有些父母被随机告知个人在州和收入范围内的大学费用；当地劳动力市场的回报在一定程度上；或成本和收益两者。信息只有在父母认为自己的孩子已准备好上大学的情况下，才能弥合社会经济期望方面的差距。