Can We Close Gaps in Literacy by Social Background over the Life Course? Evidence from Synthetic 1950-1980 Birth Cohorts. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 178

Autor/in	Chmielewski, Anna K.
Institution	Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (France)
Titel	Can We Close Gaps in Literacy by Social Background over the Life Course? Evidence from Synthetic 1950-1980 Birth Cohorts. OECD Education Working Papers, No. 178
Quelle	(2018), (74 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISSN	1993-9019
Schlagwörter	Achievement Gap; Socioeconomic Background; Academic Achievement; Adults; Adult Literacy; Surveys; Comparative Education; Reading Skills; International Assessment; Individual Development; Foreign Countries; Education Work Relationship; Labor Force; Italy; Finland; Belgium; Poland; Denmark; Netherlands; Ireland; United Kingdom (Northern Ireland); United States; Germany; Norway; Czech Republic; Canada; Sweden; United Kingdom (England); International Adult Literacy Survey + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Sozioökonomische Lage; Schulleistung; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung; Vergleichende Erziehungswissenschaft; Reading skill; Lesefertigkeit; Individuelle Entwicklung; Ausland; Labour force; Arbeitskraft; Erwerbsbevölkerung; Italien; Finnland; Belgien; Polen; Dänemark; Niederlande; Irland; USA; Deutschland; Norwegen; Tschechische Republik; Kanada; Schweden
Abstract	It is well-known that there are large disparities in academic achievement between children of different socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds. This study examines the evolution of disparities in literacy skills between adults of different SES backgrounds. It compares countries' patterns in the evolution of disparities in literacy by SES background as cohorts age and asks which patterns of educational and labour force participation predict a narrowing rather than a widening of these disparities. Since there is no international longitudinal study of skills across the entire adult life span, this study uses three cross-sectional international adult studies (International Adult Literacy Survey, Adult Literacy and Lifeskills and Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) and matches birth years to create synthetic cohorts. Results indicate that there is large cross-national variation in the evolution of skills disparities associated with SES background. Disparities in literacy proficiency tend to widen when SES disparities in high school completion, professional and blue-collar employment increase. Disparities narrow when workers exit the labour force, a finding that is explained by the large inequalities in the employment experiences of individuals from different SES backgrounds, measured by differences in use of literacy skills at work. These results help to explain cross-national variation in the evolution of skills disparities by SES background, which has implications for policies aimed at closing skills gaps over the life course. [Funding from the OECD Thomas J. Alexander Fellowship Programme.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01