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Educational Expansion and Inequality of Educational Opportunity: Perspective of Choice and Capital

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Title: Educational Expansion and Inequality of Educational Opportunity: Perspective of Choice and Capital
Language: English
Authors: Xi Chen (ORCID 0000-0002-5303-2052)
Source: European Journal of Education. 2026 61(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Educational Development, Equal Education, Educational Opportunities, Economic Factors, Cultural Capital, Secondary Education, Higher Education, Educational Indicators
DOI: 10.1111/ejed.70671
ISSN: 0141-8211
1465-3435
Abstract: Since the introduction of the maximally maintained inequality (MMI) hypothesis, the effect of educational expansion on inequality of educational opportunity (IEO) has been widely debated, with empirical studies producing conflicting results. Using data from the European Social Survey (ESS), this study examines whether the effect of educational expansion is context-dependent by focusing on four macro-level indicators derived from the choice dimension (educational returns and costs) and the capital dimension (economic capital inequality and cultural capital inequality). The results show that, at the upper secondary level, the effect of educational expansion varies significantly across social contexts, with educational returns, economic capital inequality and cultural capital inequality exerting significant moderating effects. For higher education, educational expansion is overall associated with lower IEO, but this association does not vary significantly across the four macro-level indicators. This study provides empirical evidence explaining why the effects of educational expansion are context-dependent rather than unidirectional.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506977
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Educational Expansion and Inequality of Educational Opportunity: Perspective of Choice and Capital
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xi+Chen%22">Xi Chen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-2052">0000-0002-5303-2052</externalLink>)
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Development%22">Educational Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Opportunities%22">Educational Opportunities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Factors%22">Economic Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Capital%22">Cultural Capital</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Indicators%22">Educational Indicators</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/ejed.70671
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  Data: 0141-8211<br />1465-3435
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Since the introduction of the maximally maintained inequality (MMI) hypothesis, the effect of educational expansion on inequality of educational opportunity (IEO) has been widely debated, with empirical studies producing conflicting results. Using data from the European Social Survey (ESS), this study examines whether the effect of educational expansion is context-dependent by focusing on four macro-level indicators derived from the choice dimension (educational returns and costs) and the capital dimension (economic capital inequality and cultural capital inequality). The results show that, at the upper secondary level, the effect of educational expansion varies significantly across social contexts, with educational returns, economic capital inequality and cultural capital inequality exerting significant moderating effects. For higher education, educational expansion is overall associated with lower IEO, but this association does not vary significantly across the four macro-level indicators. This study provides empirical evidence explaining why the effects of educational expansion are context-dependent rather than unidirectional.
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Development
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      – SubjectFull: Equal Education
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Opportunities
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      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
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