ABSTRACT

The literature has shown inconsistent support for the equalization thesis, that is, the idea that a college degree erases the effect of social origin on socioeconomic destination, and suggested higher intergenerational persistence among advanced degree holders compared to those with bachelor’s degrees. The present study sheds light on the origin-destination link by investigating the intergenerational association between parents’ education and offspring’s earnings, paying attention to parents’ education relative to their children’s. Drawing on large samples and multiple waves of data from the National Survey of College Graduates, this study also makes an empirical contribution by analyzing intergenerational persistence across degree types. For women, I find highest intergenerational persistence at the bachelor level, but little evidence of intergenerational association for any advanced degrees. For men, results show intergenerational persistence across educational groups. Differences across respondents holding different types of degree support a theory of intergenerational relative education advantage, in which the effect of parents’ education on offspring’s attainment varies depending on offspring’s education relative to their parents. Educational and labor market-related factors do not change the overall picture.

摘要

文献对均衡论的支持不一致，即大学学位消除了社会出身对社会经济目的地的影响，并表明与拥有学士学位的人相比，高级学位持有者的代际持久性更高。本研究通过调查父母教育与后代收入之间的代际关联，关注父母教育相对于子女的教育，揭示了起源-目的地的联系。利用来自全国大学毕业生调查的大样本和多波数据，本研究还通过分析跨学位类型的代际持久性做出了实证贡献。对于女性，我发现单身汉水平的代际持久性最高，但几乎没有证据表明任何高级学位的代际关联。对于男性，结果显示跨教育群体的代际持久性。持有不同学位类型的受访者之间的差异支持了代际相对教育优势理论，即父母教育对后代成就的影响取决于后代相对于父母的教育。教育和劳动力市场相关因素不会改变整体情况。其中父母的教育对后代成就的影响取决于后代相对于父母的教育。教育和劳动力市场相关因素不会改变整体情况。其中父母的教育对后代成就的影响取决于后代相对于父母的教育。教育和劳动力市场相关因素不会改变整体情况。