The Evolution of Educational Inequality between Rural and Urban
Residents in China: A Cohort Analysis
Abstract
This study focuses on how social reform and social changes affect the
educational inequality between social groups, specifically the rural and
urban Chinese. Existing sociology theories address the class difference
drives educational inequality, and treat social group differences as a
byproduct of class differences. By analyzing the evolution and
components of the educational gap between rural and urban residents in
China, this study found that the main driver of the educational gap
between rural and urban residents varies in different historical
periods. In the low social stratification period, if the effect of
institutional discrimination is small, the educational gap is small; in
the high social stratification period with more significant
institutional discrimination, the inferior rural residents are double
jeopardized. These results imply the educational inequality between
social groups is driven by both structural changes and discriminatory
policies, but if institutional discrimination is the main driver,
policies aim to reduce the structural inequality will have little effect
on reducing inequality.