Variations in Educational Systems and Their Consequences for Inequalities

Session Type: Invited Session

Abstract

Educational systems vary strongly between Western countries. An important question is
whether educational institutional characteristics such as tracking, standardization and
vocational orientation influences the extent to which educational systems function in the
way society may expect from it. In this panel four papers are presented that focus on
cross‐national variation in educational systems, and how this variation relates to
inequality of opportunity, civic engagement and labor market outcomes. Using a wide
collection of different cross‐nationally comparative data sources, including the PISA
studies on school performance, civic education surveys, and the European Labour Force
Surveys, hypotheses are tested on the influence of educational institutional
characteristics on different forms of inequality.

Sub Unit

• Dutch Programme Council for Educational Research

Papers

• Functions of the Education System and the Efficiency/Equality Trade-Off: A Policy-Oriented Evaluation Across Countries - Valentina Di Stasio, University of Amsterdam; Thijs Bol, Universiteit van amsterdam; Herman G. van de Werfhorst, University of Amsterdam

• Selection and Tracking in Secondary Education: A Cross-Country Analysis of Student Performance and Educational Opportunities - Roxanne Korthals, Maastricht University; Jaap Dronkers, Maastricht University

• Do School Transitions Spur Educational Inequalities? - Louise Elffers, Maastricht University

• The Impact of Curricular Tracking on Civic Engagement: A Difference‐in‐Difference Design - Jacqueline Witschge, University of Amsterdam; Herman G. van de Werfhorst, University of Amsterdam

Discussant

• David P. Baker, The Pennsylvania State University