Exploring the Relationship Between Education and Social Stratification in Global Societies

Abstract

The paper evaluates the relationship between education and social stratification in global societies with the help of mixed-methods, quasi-experimental research design. Quantitative studies which employ cross-national data indicate a significant and statistically significant relationship between educational attainment and such critical stratification outcomes as income distribution, occupational status, and intergenerational mobility. Multivariate and fixed-effects models demonstrate that high educational levels improve the likelihood of upward social economic mobility, but propensity score matching shows a measurable treatment impact of educational levels to improved social placement. Nevertheless, these effects vary according to location, and this is because of the disparities in the quality of education, the nature of the labour market as well as the welfare system. Qualitative data also show the impact of institutional organizations, the recognition of credentials, and the social network in the returns to education, often continuing to provide benefits to individuals with more advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. The findings show that education serves simultaneously as a source of social mobility and a medium of ensuring the continuation of inequality. The work contributes to the sociological theory in explaining the conditional nature of the educational returns and providing policy-relevant knowledge towards the generation of an education system that promotes equity and social inclusion under diverse conditions in society.