Karen Evans|Ingrid Schoon|Martin Weale
Can Lifelong Learning Reshape Life Chances?
University of London|Universidad de Londres|University of London|Universidad de Londres|National Institute of Economic and Social Research
abstract despite expansion postschool education incentives participate lifelong learning institutions labour markets continue interlock shaping life chances according starting social position family private resources dominant view economic social returns public investment adult learning low warrant largescale public funding challenged recent llakes research shows significant returns participants lifelong learning improvements employability employment prospects argued conditions growing social polarisation economic uncertainty lifelong learning significant protective effect keeping adults close changing labour market paper review research different disciplinary epistemological traditions providing evidence beneficial effects lifelong learning especially taking account dynamics life course transitions turningpoints youth adult life markers diversification life course far diversifications amount destandardisation life course debated involve biographical negotiation decision consequential upon previous decisions involves exercise contextualised preferences well calculations rational choice gaining better understanding changing demands negotiated different life stages offers new perspective moving narrow versions rational choice theory towards models biographical negotiation promising avenues effective policymaking