Claire Crawford|Paul Gregg|Lindsey Macmillan|Anna Vignoles|Gill Wyness
Higher education, career opportunities, and intergenerational inequality
University of Warwick|University College London|University of Cambridge|University College London
uk government expressed desire increase social mobility policies help achieve aim focused reducing inequalities educational attainment paper draws together established new information contribution higher education make social mobility using lifecourse approach considering differences family background terms university attendance achievement well occupation earnings following graduation find substantial socioeconomic differences stage young people poorer backgrounds average less likely go university richer peers even among selected group go university less likely attend highest status institutions less likely graduate less likely achieve highest degree classes differences degree outcomes contribute lower average earnings graduates poorer families earnings differentials go well beyond driven purely degree attainment institution attended evidence strongly suggests even taking factors account graduates affluent families likely obtain professional job see higher earnings growth labour market discuss implications findings prospects higher education route greater social mobility