Can the Expansion of Higher Education Promote Upward Social Mobility?Evidence from the Expansion of Chinese Universities
By constructing a theoretical model,this paper analyzes the impact of higher education expansion on upward social mobility by changing educational equity and signal functions of degrees.Then,based on the"quasi-natural experiment"of college enrollment expansion policy in 1999,an empirical test is carried out by using the cohort DID model.This research shows that the expansion of higher education has not reduced the inequality of higher education opportunities,and the rapid expansion of higher education has led to a decline in the signal functions of diplomas,which has weakened the promoting effect of education on individual upward mobility.Under the influence of these two aspects,the expansion of higher education will have an adverse impact on upward social mobility.Further study finds that the groups with less education,rural families and female are more affected by the policy.
expansion of higher educationupward social mobilityeducational equitydiploma signal
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