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Inequalities in young peoples' educational experiences and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic

Jake Anders, Lindsey Macmillan (), Patrick Sturgis () and Gill Wyness
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Lindsey Macmillan: UCL Centre for Education Policy & Equalising Opportunities
Patrick Sturgis: LSE Department of Methodology

No 21-08, CEPEO Working Paper Series from UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities

Abstract: While the health risks of Covid-19 for young people are low, they have borne a heavy cost of the pandemic through intense disruption to their education and social lives. These effects have not been experienced equally across social and demographic groups. Using data from a nationally representative survey of 4,000 young people linked to their education records, we study inequalities in young people's experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic. We find particularly stark inequalities by socio-economic status, with young people from poorer families facing disadvantage on multiple fronts, particularly in their experiences of home learning, returning to school, and exam cancellations compared to more advantaged young people. Gender and ethnic inequalities were more mixed, though young females reported significantly lower wellbeing scores than males. This evidence suggests that the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities, meaning policymakers concerned with increasing equity and social mobility now face an even bigger task than before.

Keywords: Covid-19; socio-economic status; gender; ethnicity; wellbeing; inequality. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2021-07, Revised 2021-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-hap, nep-hea and nep-isf
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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