Country-Level Income Inequality and Educational Outcomes

• In Event: 75.061 - Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: 75.061-10 - Comparative Perspectives: Learning From Large International Data Sets

Abstract

Income inequality can create injustice in a nation. Despite considerable attention to many outcomes of country-level income inequality, educational outcomes are rarely considered. Because of the positive economic implications of a nation with high achieving students, this relationship is important to examine. This study offers a cross-national examination of the relationship between country-level income inequality and country- and student-level educational outcomes in high-income countries. Preliminary results suggest a negative relationship of country-level income inequality with country- and student-level educational outcomes. We propose that national policies seek to minimize the current income inequality in order to bring justice and equality to the educational outcomes of that nation. This study has implications for economic and educational policy.

Authors

• Chrisse Edmunds, Brigham Young University

• Kristie J. Rowley, Brigham Young University

• Mikaela J. Dufur, Brigham Young University

• Lance Erickson, Brigham Young University