Inequality and Dropout in Higher Education in Colombia. A Multilevel Analysis of Regional Differences, Institutions, and Field of Study

María Inés Barbosa-Camargo, Antonio García-Sánchez and María Luisa Ridao-Carlini
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María Inés Barbosa-Camargo: Facultad de Economía, Empresa y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá 11001, Colombia
Antonio García-Sánchez: Departamento de Economía e Historia Económica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Sevilla, Spain
María Luisa Ridao-Carlini: Departamento de Economía e Historia Económica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Sevilla, Spain
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Maria Ines Barbosa Camargo

Mathematics, 2021, vol. 9, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: In Colombia, the gaps of regional inequalities and social opportunities permeate people’s economic, political, and social participation. Additionally, the initial endowments of individual and socioeconomic background, barriers to financial aid, and academic and personal skills restrict decision-making about studying. In this context, the main objective is to analyze the determinants of dropout rates in Colombia and the differences between the type of institutions, field of study, and regions. We used data from three public administrative agencies for the period 2000–2012. The methodology combines multiple correspondence analysis and a lineal hierarchical model to explain the effect of variables operating at different levels. As a result, we retained four dimensions to represent the individuals’ socioeconomic and financial conditions. The findings obtained from the multilevel model suggest the variation between institutions (11%) and the interaction between institutions and the program cycle (17.8%). It confirms the influence of inequities on desertion. The student chooses between programs with differences in fees and study costs in general, such as quality, social recognition, and employment. In sum, contextual and institutional disparities in the dropout phenomenon’s behavior are explained mainly by the supply conditions in these regions and the individuals’ socioeconomic backgrounds.

Keywords: dropout; higher education; inequality; probit; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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