The Evolution of Modern Educational Systems: Technical Vs. General Education, Distributional Conflict and Growth

Graziella Bertocchi () and Michael Spagat

No 1925, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We study the evolution of an educational system which is founded on a hierarchical differentiation between technical and general education, with a superior social status attached to general. The resulting dynamic political equilibrium is best summarized by the ratio of vocational to general education, which we interpret as a measure of the degree of stratification of the educational system. We show that this ratio first rises and then declines with the level of development, displaying an inverted U-shape which reflects the complex interaction between economic and political forces, including aggregate income growth, wealth inequality and political participation. We predict that developing countries will tend to overinvest in vocational education at the expense of general.

Keywords: general education; Growth; Income Distribution; Politics; social status; technical education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D31 J24 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998-07
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Journal Article: The evolution of modern educational systems: Technical vs. general education, distributional conflict, and growth (2004)
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