Selective schooling and social mobility in England

Buscha, F., Gorman, E. and Sturgis, P. 2023. Selective schooling and social mobility in England. Labour Economics. 81 102336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2023.102336

TitleSelective schooling and social mobility in England
TypeJournal article
AuthorsBuscha, F., Gorman, E. and Sturgis, P.
Abstract

We assess whether changing from an academically selective to a comprehensive schooling system promotes social mobility, using England as a case study. Over a period of two decades, the share of pupils in academically selective schools in England declined sharply and differentially by area. Using a sample of census records matched to data on selective schooling, we exploit temporal and geographic variation in the proportion of pupils attending selective schools to estimate the effects of schooling system on intergenerational social mobility. Our results provide no support for the contention that the move from selective to comprehensive schooling had a notable effect on social mobility in England. The findings are robust to a battery of sensitivity and robustness checks.

KeywordsSocial mobility
census
selective schooling
grammar
comprehensive
Article number102336
JournalLabour Economics
Journal citation81
ISSN1879-1034
0927-5371
Year2023
PublisherElsevier
Publisher's version
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2023.102336
Web address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927537123000118
Publication dates
Published online25 Jan 2023
Published in printApr 2023
ProjectAn Investigation of Social Mobility Using the ONS Longitudinal Study: sub-national variation and effects of selective education
FunderEconomic and Social Research Council

Related outputs

Causal Inference
Kameshwara, K. and Gorman, E. Forthcoming. Causal Inference. in: Thomas, M., Jules, T., Shields, R. and Schweisfurth, M. (ed.) The Bloomsbury Handbook of Research Methods in Comparative and International Education Bloomsbury.

Ethnic differences in intergenerational housing mobility in England and Wales
Buscha, F., Gorman, E., Sturgis, P. and Zhang, M. 2023. Ethnic differences in intergenerational housing mobility in England and Wales. Journal of Social Policy. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279423000570

Education pathways to the labour market for 16-year-olds who struggle to achieve maths and English in General Certificate of Secondary Education
Gorman, E., Thomson, D., Urwin, P. and Zhang, M. 2023. Education pathways to the labour market for 16-year-olds who struggle to achieve maths and English in General Certificate of Secondary Education. ADRUK 2023 Conference. Swansea University. https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v8i2.2306.

A national multiple baseline cohort study of mental health conditions in early adolescence and subsequent educational outcomes in New Zealand
Gorman, E., Bowden, N., Kokaua, J., McNeill, B. and Schluter, P.J. 2023. A national multiple baseline cohort study of mental health conditions in early adolescence and subsequent educational outcomes in New Zealand. Scientific Reports. 13 11025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38131-8

Does schooling have lasting effects on cognitive function? Evidence from compulsory schooling laws
Gorman, E. 2023. Does schooling have lasting effects on cognitive function? Evidence from compulsory schooling laws. Demography. 60 (4), pp. 1139-1161. https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-10875853

Returns to Education: Individuals
Buscha, F. and Dickson, M. 2023. Returns to Education: Individuals. in: Zimmermann, K.F. (ed.) Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics Springer, Cham Springer.

How much does degree choice matter?
Buscha, F., Britton, J., van der Erve, L., Belfied, C., Vignoles, A., Dickson, M., Walker, I., Dearden, L. and Sibieta, L. 2022. How much does degree choice matter? Labour Economics. 79 102268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102268

Selective Schooling and Returns to Education
Gorman, E. 2022. Selective Schooling and Returns to Education. in: Zimmermann, K.F. (ed.) Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics Springer.

Spatial and social mobility in England and Wales: A sub‐national analysis of differences and trends over time
Buscha, F., Gorman, Emma and Sturgis, Patrick 2021. Spatial and social mobility in England and Wales: A sub‐national analysis of differences and trends over time. The British Journal of Sociology. 72 (5), pp. 1378-1393. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12885

Adolescent School Bullying Victimization and Later Life Outcomes
Gorman, E., Harmon, C., Mendolia, S., Staneva, A. and Walker, I. 2021. Adolescent School Bullying Victimization and Later Life Outcomes. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics. 83 (4), pp. 1048-1076. https://doi.org/10.1111/obes.12432

Heterogeneous effects of missing out on a place at a preferred secondary school in England
Gorman, Emma and Walker, Ian 2021. Heterogeneous effects of missing out on a place at a preferred secondary school in England. Economics of Education Review. 81 102082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2021.102082

The earnings returns to postgraduate degrees in the UK
Buscha, F., Britton, J., Dickson, M., van der Erve, L., Vignoles, A., Walker, I., Waltmann, B. and Zhu, Y. 2020. The earnings returns to postgraduate degrees in the UK. Department for Education.

The role of small businesses in employing the unemployed and inactive
Buscha, F. and Urwin, P. 2020. The role of small businesses in employing the unemployed and inactive. in: Saridakis, G. and Cowling, M (ed.) Handbook of Quantitative Research Methods in Entrepreneurship Edward Elgar. pp. 139-179

Correcting for non-participation bias in health surveys using record-linkage, synthetic observations and pattern mixture modelling
Gray, L., Gorman, E., White, I. R., Katikireddi, S. V., McCartney, G., Rutherford, L. and Leyland, A. H. 2020. Correcting for non-participation bias in health surveys using record-linkage, synthetic observations and pattern mixture modelling. Statistical Methods in Medical Research. 29 (4), pp. 1212-1226. https://doi.org/10.1177/0962280219854482

Assessing Factors that Affect the Labour Market Decisions of Young People aged 16 to 24: Research Informing LPC Review of Youth Rates
Bowyer, A., Cerqua, A., Di Pietro, G., Gorman, E. and Urwin, P. 2019. Assessing Factors that Affect the Labour Market Decisions of Young People aged 16 to 24: Research Informing LPC Review of Youth Rates. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-on-minimum-wage-youth-rates Low Pay Commission.

Validation of non-participation bias methodology based on record-linked Finnish register-based health survey data: a protocol paper
McMinn, M. A., Martikainen, P., Gorman, E., Rissanen, H., Härkänen, T., Tolonen, H., Leyland, A. H. and Gray, L. 2019. Validation of non-participation bias methodology based on record-linked Finnish register-based health survey data: a protocol paper. BMJ Open. 9 (4), p. e026187 e026187. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026187

The impact of undergraduate degrees on early-career earnings
Belfield, C., Britton, J., Buscha, F., Dearden, L., Dickson, M., van der Erve, L., Sibieta, A., Vignoles, A., Walker, I. and Zhu, Y. 2018. The impact of undergraduate degrees on early-career earnings. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/undergraduate-degrees-labour-market-returns Department for Education.

The relative labour market returns to different degrees
Belfield, C., Britton, J., Buscha, F., Dearden, L., Dickson, M., van der Erve, L., Sibieta, L., Vignoles, A., Walker, I. and Zhu, Y. 2018. The relative labour market returns to different degrees. Department for Education.

A Note on the Wage Effects of the 1972 Raising of the School Leaving Age in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Buscha, F. and Dickson, M. 2018. A Note on the Wage Effects of the 1972 Raising of the School Leaving Age in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scottish Journal of Political Economy. 65 (5), pp. 572-582. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjpe.12187

Declining Social Mobility? Evidence from five linked Censuses in England and Wales 1971-2011
Buscha, F. and Sturgis, P. 2018. Declining Social Mobility? Evidence from five linked Censuses in England and Wales 1971-2011. British Journal of Sociology. 69 (1), pp. 154-182. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12275

Adjustment for survey non‐representativeness using record‐linkage: refined estimates of alcohol consumption by deprivation in Scotland
Gorman, E., Leyland, A. H., McCartney, G., Katikireddi, S. V., Rutherford, L., Graham, L., Robinson, M. and Gray, L. 2017. Adjustment for survey non‐representativeness using record‐linkage: refined estimates of alcohol consumption by deprivation in Scotland. Addiction. 112 (7), pp. 1270-1280. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13797

Can a Common Currency Foster a Shared Social Identity across Different Nations? The Case of the Euro
Buscha, F., Müller, D. and Page, L. 2017. Can a Common Currency Foster a Shared Social Identity across Different Nations? The Case of the Euro. European Economic Review. 100, pp. 318-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.08.011

Can a Common Currency Foster a Shared Social Identity across Different Nations? The Case of the Euro
Buscha, F., Müller, D. and Page, L. 2016. Can a Common Currency Foster a Shared Social Identity across Different Nations? The Case of the Euro. Workshop on Behavioral Political Economy: New models of agents’ beliefs, preferences and sophistication. Abu Dhabi 14 - 15 Dec 2015

Does Daily Sunshine make you Happy? Subjective Measures of Well-being and the Weather
Buscha, F. 2016. Does Daily Sunshine make you Happy? Subjective Measures of Well-being and the Weather. The Manchester School. 84 (5), pp. 642-663. https://doi.org/10.1111/manc.12126

Places and preferences: a longitudinal analysis of self-selection and contextual effects
Gallego, A., Buscha, F., Sturgis, P. and Oberski, D. 2016. Places and preferences: a longitudinal analysis of self-selection and contextual effects. British Journal of Political Science. 46 (3), pp. 529-550. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123414000337

Social connectedness and generalized trust: a longitudinal perspective
Sturgis, P., Patulny, R., Allum, N. and Buscha, F. 2015. Social connectedness and generalized trust: a longitudinal perspective. in: Li, Y. (ed.) The handbook of research methods and applications on social capital Cheltenham Edward Elgar. pp. 76-90

Increasing inter-generational social mobility: is educational expansion the answer?
Buscha, F. and Sturgis, P. 2015. Increasing inter-generational social mobility: is educational expansion the answer? British Journal of Sociology. 66 (3), pp. 512-533. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12138

Assessing the Representativeness of Population-Sampled Health Surveys Through Linkage to Administrative Data on Alcohol-Related Outcomes
Gorman, E., Leyland, A. H., McCartney, G., White, I. R., Katikireddi, S. V., Rutherford, L., Graham, L. and Gray, L. 2014. Assessing the Representativeness of Population-Sampled Health Surveys Through Linkage to Administrative Data on Alcohol-Related Outcomes. American Journal of Epidemiology. 180 (9), pp. 941-948. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwu207

Estimating earnings returns to vocational qualifications using administrative data
Bibby, D., Buscha, F., Cerqua, A., Thomson, D. and Urwin, P.J. 2014. Estimating earnings returns to vocational qualifications using administrative data. London Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Back to basics: Is there a significant generational dimension and where does it ‘cut’?
Buscha, F., Parry, E. and Urwin, P.J. 2014. Back to basics: Is there a significant generational dimension and where does it ‘cut’? in: Parry, E. (ed.) Generational diversity at work: new research perspectives Abingdon, Oxon Routledge. pp. 81-94

The impact of truancy on educational attainment during compulsory schooling: a bivariate ordered probit estimator with mixed effects
Buscha, F. and Conte, A. 2014. The impact of truancy on educational attainment during compulsory schooling: a bivariate ordered probit estimator with mixed effects. The Manchester School. 82 (1), pp. 103-127. https://doi.org/10.1111/manc.12002

Representation in UK employment tribunals: analysis of the 2003 and 2008 Survey of Employment Tribunal Applications (SETA)
Urwin, P.J., Buscha, F. and Latreille, P. 2014. Representation in UK employment tribunals: analysis of the 2003 and 2008 Survey of Employment Tribunal Applications (SETA). British Journal of Industrial Relations. 52 (1), pp. 158-184. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2012.00914.x

Taking political engagement online: an experimental analysis of asynchronous discussion forums
Smith, G., John, P. and Sturgis, P. 2013. Taking political engagement online: an experimental analysis of asynchronous discussion forums. Political Studies. 61 (4), pp. 709-730. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.2012.00989.x

Use of record-linkage to handle non-response and improve alcohol consumption estimates in health survey data: a study protocol
Gray, L., McCartney, G., White, I. R., Katikireddi, S. V., Rutherford, L., Gorman, E. and Leyland, A. H. 2013. Use of record-linkage to handle non-response and improve alcohol consumption estimates in health survey data: a study protocol . BMJ Open. 3 (3), p. BMJ Open 2013;3:e002647 e002647. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002647

Estimating the labour market returns to qualifications gained in English further education using the Individualised Learner Record (ILR)
Buscha, F. and Urwin, P.J. 2013. Estimating the labour market returns to qualifications gained in English further education using the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). London Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The raising of the school leaving age: returns in later life
Buscha, F. and Dickson, M. 2012. The raising of the school leaving age: returns in later life. Economics Letters. 117 (2), pp. 389-393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2012.06.018

Social connectedness and generalized trust: a longitudinal perspective
Sturgis, P., Patulny, R., Allum, N. and Buscha, F. 2012. Social connectedness and generalized trust: a longitudinal perspective. ISER. https://doi.org/2012-19

The role of small businesses in employment and enterprise
Urwin, P.J. and Buscha, F. 2012. The role of small businesses in employment and enterprise. Federation of Small Businesses.

Measuring the earnings returns to lifelong learning in the UK
Blanden, J., Buscha, F., Sturgis, P. and Urwin, P.J. 2012. Measuring the earnings returns to lifelong learning in the UK. Economics of Education Review. 31 (4), pp. 501-514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2011.12.009

The effect of employment while in high school on educational attainment: a conditional difference-in-differences approach
Buscha, F., Maurel, A., Page, L. and Speckesser, S. 2012. The effect of employment while in high school on educational attainment: a conditional difference-in-differences approach. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics. 74 (3), pp. 380-396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.2011.00650.x

Financial expectations and the ‘left–right’ political value scale: testing for the POUM hypothesis
Buscha, F. 2012. Financial expectations and the ‘left–right’ political value scale: testing for the POUM hypothesis. Economics Letters. 115 (3), pp. 460-464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2011.12.121

Are you experienced? SME use of and attitudes towards workplace mediation
Latreille, P., Buscha, F. and Conte, A. 2012. Are you experienced? SME use of and attitudes towards workplace mediation. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 23 (3), pp. 590-606. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2012.641082

Representations in UK employment tribunals: analysis of the 2003 and 2008 survey of employment tribunal applications (SETA)
Buscha, F., Latreille, P. and Urwin, P.J. 2012. Representations in UK employment tribunals: analysis of the 2003 and 2008 survey of employment tribunal applications (SETA). London Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

The impact of the economy on recruitment and retention in the armed forces: final report
Parry, E., Urwin, P.J., Tyson, S., Buscha, F. and Gould, M. 2011. The impact of the economy on recruitment and retention in the armed forces: final report. Ministry of Defence.

Patterns of representation in SETA 2008
Buscha, F., Latreille, P. and Urwin, P.J. 2011. Patterns of representation in SETA 2008. Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Analysis of the survey of employment tribunal applications
Buscha, F., Latreille, P. and Urwin, P.J. 2011. Analysis of the survey of employment tribunal applications. Commissioned by the Trades Union Congress.

SME attitudes towards mediation: some survey evidence
Latreille, P., Buscha, F. and Conte, A. 2010. SME attitudes towards mediation: some survey evidence. Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Measuring the returns to lifelong learning
Blanden, J., Buscha, F., Sturgis, P. and Urwin, P.J. 2010. Measuring the returns to lifelong learning. London School of Economics. https://doi.org/CEEDP110

Statistical research into measuring adult educational attainment using the Labour Force Survey
Buscha, F., Urwin, P.J. and Sturgis, P. 2010. Statistical research into measuring adult educational attainment using the Labour Force Survey. Commissioned by Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the Office of National Statistics.

Measuring the returns to networking and the accumulation of social capital: any evidence of bonding, bridging or linking?
Urwin, P.J., Di Pietro, G., Sturgis, P. and Jack, G. 2008. Measuring the returns to networking and the accumulation of social capital: any evidence of bonding, bridging or linking? American Journal of Economics and Sociology. 67 (5), pp. 941-968. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1536-7150.2008.00603.x

Becoming a Government Economist: Who Passes, Who Fails?
Hedges, P.F., Urwin, P.J. and Buscha, F. 2008. Becoming a Government Economist: Who Passes, Who Fails? The Royal Economic Society Conference 2008. University of Warwick 17 - 19 Mar 2008

Small businesses in the UK: new perspectives on evidence and policy
Urwin, P.J., Karuk, V., Buscha, F. and Siara, B. 2008. Small businesses in the UK: new perspectives on evidence and policy. London Commissioned by the Federation of Small Businesses.

Ownership and the strategic behaviour of small and medium size manufacturing firms
Ghobadian, A., Urwin, P.J., O'Regan, N. and Buscha, F. 2008. Ownership and the strategic behaviour of small and medium size manufacturing firms. British Academy of Management Conference 2008 (BAM2008). Majestic Hotel, Harrogate 9 - 11 Sep 2008

The effect of lifelong learning on intra-generational social mobility - evidence from longitudinal data in the United Kingdom
Blanden, J., Sturgis, P., Buscha, F. and Urwin, P.J. 2008. The effect of lifelong learning on intra-generational social mobility - evidence from longitudinal data in the United Kingdom. Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. https://doi.org/DIUSResearchReport09-04

What makes a good government economist?
Hedges, P.F., Urwin, P.J. and Buscha, F. 2007. What makes a good government economist? Developments in Economics Education conference 2007. University of Cambridge 06 - 07 Sep 2007

Measuring the returns to networking and the accumulation of social capital: are the yuppies networking?
Urwin, P.J., Jack, G., Sturgis, P. and Di Pietro, G. 2005. Measuring the returns to networking and the accumulation of social capital: are the yuppies networking? ESPE 2005: XIX Annual Conference of the European Society of Population Economics. Paris, France 16-18 Jun 2005

Identifying the returns to networking and social capital accumulation
Urwin, P.J., Jack, G., Sturgis, P. and Di Pietro, G. 2005. Identifying the returns to networking and social capital accumulation. Whither Social Capital? Past, Present and Future, An International Conference. London, UK 06-07 April 2005

Measuring the employment effects of networking and the accumulation of social capital: does the 2000 UK time use survey add to this understanding?
Di Pietro, G. and Sturgis, P. 2002. Measuring the employment effects of networking and the accumulation of social capital: does the 2000 UK time use survey add to this understanding? International Association for Time Use Research Conference 2002: Work Time and Leisure Time. Lisbon, Portugal 15-18 Oct 2002

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/w1480/selective-schooling-and-social-mobility-in-england


Share this

Usage statistics

68 total views
25 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.