Educational inequalities - and what lies behind them

Abstract

This paper analyses the inequality in the educational attainment of the population of the domestic and developed countries, mainly those of the European Union, in the 21st century. It examines one possible cause of the disparity in inequality between countries, pointing to differences in the rates of secondary education, with higher rates of population in post-socialist countries in this area. The study finds that the higher rates of secondary education in post-socialist countries are the result of a high educational policy preference for secondary vocational education, which is a consequence of the re-industrialisation policies of these countries. The paper also highlights the link between educational inequalities and earnings inequalities. The paper concludes by pointing out that it is feared that this education policy will have several negative effects: higher levels of earnings inequality and a lag in human resource development behind developed countries.