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Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice? The Impact of Higher Education Expansion on Educational Opportunity in China

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  • Dongshu Ou

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Yuna Hou

    (Southwest University)

Abstract

China’s higher education system has expanded rapidly since 1999. Exploiting variation in the density of university expansion across provinces and high school cohorts and applying a difference-in-differences model, we estimate the impact of higher education expansion on educational access and attainment with a particular focus on students’ family and demographic backgrounds. Results indicate that the expansion of university spots increased both access and graduation rates at 4-year universities, but this improvement was driven by those of higher social status, including males, those with highly educated fathers, han-ethnic and urban students. Females, rural students and those with low-educated fathers also benefited once they were able to graduate from high school. Also, the policy had only a limited effect on the likelihood of graduating from high school. As in other countries, education expansion in China has not led to equal distribution of educational opportunities, and the least socioeconomically advantaged students are missing out.

Suggested Citation

  • Dongshu Ou & Yuna Hou, 2019. "Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice? The Impact of Higher Education Expansion on Educational Opportunity in China," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 60(3), pages 358-391, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reihed:v:60:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s11162-018-9514-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11162-018-9514-2
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    2. Simson, Rebecca, 2021. "Regional inequality in university attainment in seven African countries since 1960," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    3. Huang, Bin & Tani, Massimiliano & Wei, Yi & Zhu, Yu, 2022. "Returns to education in China: Evidence from the great higher education expansion," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
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    6. Ou, Dongshu & Zhao, Zhong, 2016. "Higher Education Expansion and Labor Market Outcomes for Young College Graduates," IZA Discussion Papers 9643, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Dongshu Ou & Zhong Zhao, 2022. "Higher Education Expansion in China, 1999–2003: Impact on Graduate Employability," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 30(2), pages 117-141, March.
    8. Yueyan Dong & Nannan Yu & Tao Hong & Jinxing Yue, 2022. "City Administrative Level and Tertiary Educational Opportunities: Evidence From China’s Higher Education Expansion Policy," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.

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