Educational Expansion and Educational Reproduction in Eastern Europe, 1940-1979

Abstract

Considers changes in the effects of parental background on educational attainment in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, & Slovakia, 1940-1979, drawing on 1993 cross-national survey data from 13,997 male respondents. Findings show slight but consistent decreases in the effects of parents' education, status, & political party membership on final educational attainment. However, it demonstrates stability or increases in the effects of parental background on the continuation probabilities at schooling transitions. Applying a method developed by Robert D. Mare (1981 [see abstract 81L8738]), analysis reveals that the slight decreases in the effects of parental background on final educational attainment result from two offsetting influences: stability or slight increases in the effects of parental background on school continuation probabilities in schooling transitions resulted in the stability of increase in these effects; whereas the substantial educational expansion that occurred in these nations resulted in their decrease.