We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Demographic Echo of War and educational attainment in Soviet Russia.
- Authors
Yastrebov, Gordey
- Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on Western countries has shown that birth cohort size is negatively related to educational attainment. It has offered complementary interpretations of this association - optimal schooling choices versus cohort overcrowding effects - that are difficult to resolve empirically. OBJECTIVE To investigate birth cohort size effects on educational attainment taking shape primarily in the context of a socialist society that does not lend itself well to "optimal schooling" interpretations. METHODS I exploit birth cohort size variation generated by the Second World War, a phenomenon known as the Demographic War Echo. Using the Education and Employment Survey for Russia and growth curve modeling, I analyze educational trajectories between ages 18 and 35 among Russian men and women born 1950-1987. RESULTS Larger cohorts attained less schooling and advanced more slowly in their educational careers. They could partly make up for the disadvantage by studying longer and retreating to part-time education. The disadvantage was larger for women because for men it was partly compensated through a decreased probability of military conscription. CONCLUSIONS Larger birth cohort size disadvantaged young Russians in the process of educational attainment. Given the context, this can be attributed entirely to cohort overcrowding effects.
- Subjects
RUSSIA; EDUCATIONAL attainment; BIRTH size; DRAFT (Military service); COHORT analysis; WESTERN countries
- Publication
Demographic Research, 2021, Vol 45, p727
- ISSN
1435-9871
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.4054/DemRes.2021.45.22