Work

Civic Returns to Higher Education: A Note on Heterogeneous Effects

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: American educational leaders and philosophers have long valued schooling for its role in preparing the nation's youth to be civically engaged citizens. Numerous studies have found a positive relationship between education and subsequent civic participation. However, little is known about possible variation in effects by selection into higher education, a critical omission considering education's expressed role as a key mechanism for integrating disadvantaged individuals into civic life. I disaggregate effects and examine whether civic returns to higher education are largest for disadvantaged low likelihood or advantaged high likelihood college goers. I find evidence for significant effect heterogeneity: civic returns to college are greatest among individuals who have a low likelihood for college completion. Returns decrease as the propensity for college increases.

Source: Social Forces

DOI: 10.1353/sof.2010.0095

Author: J. E. Brand

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Higher Education Research Studies

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Quality education, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Nursing Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development