The Adverse Effects of Economic Inequality on Educational Outcomes: An Examination of PISA Scores, 2000–2015. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thorson, Gregory R.; Gearhart, Sera M.
• Is Part Of: World affairs. Volume 181:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 286
• Page End: 306
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Education Policy -- PISA Scores -- Policy Analysis -- Cross-Country Comparative Studies -- The United States -- The United Kingdom -- 2000–2015 -- Income Inequality -- Poverty -- Economic Inequality -- International Comparative Studies -- Academic Achievement -- Math -- Maths -- Reading -- Science; Política educativa -- Puntuaciones PISA -- Análisis de políticas -- Desigualdad de ingresos -- Pobreza -- Desigualdad económica -- Estudios comparativos internacionales -- Logros académicos; 教育政策 -- 国际学生评估项目成绩 -- 政策分析 -- 收入不平等 -- 贫困 -- 经济不平等 -- 国际比较研究 -- 学术成就; International relations -- Periodicals; Peace -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law) -- Periodicals; United States -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law); International relations; Peace; United states; Foreign relations; Internationale politiek; Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0043820018799425
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-8200

Abstract

One of the most important economic trends of the past 30 years has been the escalating levels of within-country income inequality. Much of the developed world is currently experiencing large increases in income inequality. Indeed, income inequality in the United States now exceeds the previous highs of the 1930s. Recent research has found that increases in income inequality can produce a wide variety of societal ills. This article examines the effects of economic inequality on educational outcomes. Drawing on data provided by the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 2000 through 2015, we find that a country's level of economic inequality has large, negative effects on its student academic achievement. The effect sizes are largest in math. We examine a variety of potential solutions to lessen within-country economic inequality.