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Inequality of Opportunity in Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Caroline Krafft

    (St. Catherine University)

  • Halimat Alawode
Abstract
Problems with inequality have been at the forefront of recent events in the Middle East and North Africa region. Yet by conventional measures such as wages and consumption, inequality is not particularly high. In this paper we explore an alternative dimension of inequality, specifically inequality of opportunity in higher education. We assess the determinants of attaining higher education in Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia and quantify the extent and drivers of inequality of opportunity. We find that inequality is similarly high in Egypt and Tunisia, but moderate in Jordan. In all three countries family socio-economic characteristics are the primary driver of inequality. Family characteristics affect attainment even after accounting for test scores, which are themselves influenced by socio-economic status. Particularly in Egypt and Tunisia, where higher education is free of charge, public spending on higher education is ultimately regressive. Thus, a theoretically meritocratic and equitable system perpetuates inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Krafft & Halimat Alawode, 2016. "Inequality of Opportunity in Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa," Working Papers 1056, Economic Research Forum, revised 10 2016.
    • Handle: RePEc:erg:wpaper:1056
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    Cited by:

    1. Mongi Boughzala, 2017. "Employment and the Functioning of the Labor Market," Working Papers 1154, Economic Research Forum, revised 11 Sep 2003.
    2. Krafft, Caroline & Elbadawy, Asmaa & Sieverding, Maia, 2019. "Constrained school choice in Egypt," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Neji Saidi & Mohieddine Rahmouni, 2022. "Household demand for private tutoring in Tunisia," Post-Print hal-04270372, HAL.
    4. Jingjing Qu & Aijun Li & Morié Guy-Roland N’Drin, 2023. "Measuring technology inequality across African countries using the concept of efficiency Gini coefficient," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 4107-4138, May.
    5. Monica P. Lambon-Quayefio & Robert D. Osei & Abena D. Oduro & Isaac Osei Akoto, 2020. "Understanding the relationship between Consumption Inequality, Inequality of Opportunity and Education Outcomes in Ghana," Working Paper 7fb837eb-0c6e-4b0e-973b-7, Agence française de développement.
    6. Simson, Rebecca, 2021. "Regional inequality in university attainment in seven African countries since 1960," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    7. Anyu Chen & Yueran Li & Kunhui Ye & Tianyi Nie & Rui Liu, 2021. "Does Transport Infrastructure Inequality Matter for Economic Growth? Evidence from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Ragui Assaad & Samir Ghazouani & Caroline Krafft & Dominique J. Rolando, 2016. "Introducing the Tunisia Labor Market Panel Survey 2014," IZA Journal of Labor & Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 5(1), pages 1-21, December.
    9. Sarmiento Espinel, Jaime Andrés & Silva Arias, Adriana Carolina & van Gameren, Edwin, 2019. "Evolution of the inequality of educational opportunities from secondary education to university," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 193-202.
    10. Saidi Anis (a) , Hamdaoui Mekki (b) and Ochi Anis (b), 2021. "Inequality of Opportunity and Degree of Human Development: Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 46(1), pages 107-137, March.
    11. Anis Ochi & Yosra Saidi, 2022. "Do Tunisian Children Have an Equal Chance to Access to School 8 Years After Revolution?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2007-2029, September.
    12. Yue Yu & Chengkui Liu, 2023. "Pre-market discrimination or post-market discrimination: research on inequality of opportunity for labor income in China," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(5), pages 2291-2313, May.
    13. Chea, Phal, 2019. "Does higher education expansion in Cambodia make access to education more equal?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-1.
    14. Buckner, Elizabeth & Khoramshahi, Ceara, 2021. "Does the private sector expand access to higher education? A cross-national analysis, 1999-2017," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    15. Monserrat Serio, 2021. "Desempeño educativo de los estudiantes en Argentina: Una mirada a la desigualdad de oportunidades del sistema educativo a partir de su medición y descomposición," Working Papers 86, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    16. Sieverding, Maia & Krafft, Caroline & Elbadawy, Asmaa, 2017. "“The Teacher Does Not Explain in Class”: An Exploration of the Drivers of Private Tutoring in Egypt," GLO Discussion Paper Series 135, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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