Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/104694 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8546
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper investigates trends in intergenerational transmission of education among black South Africans – changes in correlation between parents' and children's education. Using data for 1954-1993 birth cohorts, we find a decrease in intergenerational transmission of education over the last four decades. The decline is strongest in the lower tail of the educational distribution. Nevertheless, a considerable portion of children's education still depends on family background. Children from poor educational backgrounds face significant barriers to attaining higher levels of education while the reverse applies to those from rich backgrounds. This suggests that initiatives to weaken the intergenerational link, particularly at higher levels of education, should target the offspring of educationally deprived parents.
Subjects: 
intergenerational transmission
education
South Africa
JEL: 
J62
I24
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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