Higher Education Admission Policy and Social Class of Ethnic Minority: The Case of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

Authors

  • Lijun Ti

    School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100080, China

  • Xiaokun Yang

    Center for Studies of Ethnic Minorities in Northwest China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, China

  • Wang Zhou

    Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/mmpp.v5i3.5789
Received: 16 June 2023 | Revised: 30 June 2023 | Accepted: 10 July 2023 | Published Online: 17 July 2023

Abstract

Gaokao has been considered as the gatekeeper of intergenerational class reproduction in today’s slowing social mobility in China. In order to bolster the fairness of Gaokao, the Policy of Bonus Scores for Ethnic Minority Candidates (PBSEMC) has been issued, whose, however, effectiveness in promoting upward social class has not been adequately empirically explored. The difference-in-differences (DID) analysis based on cross-sectional data, which is distinct from the traditional DID analysis paradigm, was implemented to assess the Reform of PBSEMC in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 1988. The results showed that PBSEMC had a significant and positive impact on the social classes of ethnic minorities, and gender, residence type and occupation type were also relevant to social class, aligning with the previous literature. The PBSEMC is effective in improving the social classes of ethnic minorities. However, the PBSEMC policy should be made more precise, in order to benefit the candidates who are in genuine need of assistance.

Keywords:

Gaokao, Policy of bonus scores, Ethnic minority, Social class, Difference-in-differences analysis, Higher education

References

[1] Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, 2020. Zhong guo zhu hu diao cha nian jian (Chinese) [China yearbook of household survey]. China Statistics Press: Beijing.

[2] Zhu, G.L., Li, C.X., 2017. Xian shi hai shi feng xian: “jie ceng gu hua” bian xi (Chinese) [Reality or risk: An analysis of social class solidification]. Exploration and Free Views. (5), 76-82+102.

[3] Blau, P.M., Duncan, O.D., 1967. The American occupational structure. John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken.

[4] Lin, N., Vaughn, J.C., Ensel, W.M., 1981. Social resources and occupational status attainment. Social Forces. 59(4), 1163-1181. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2577987

[5] Blau, P.M., 1992. Mobility and status attainment. Contemporary Sociology. 21(5), 596-598. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2075538

[6] Breen, R., 2010. Educational expansion and social mobility in the 20th century. Social Forces. 89(2), 365-388.

[7] Wu, K.M., Wu, D., 2021. Gao deng jiao yu yu she hui liu dong de guan xi: yi ge wen xian zong shu (Chinese) [Relationship of higher education and social mobility: A literature review]. China Economics of Education Review. (4), 118-128.

[8] Ishida, H., Muller, W., Ridge, J.M., 1995. Class origin, class destination, and education: A cross-national study of ten industrial nations. American Journal of Sociology. 101(1), 145-193.

[9] Zhao, C.L., 2008. She hui fen ceng, wen hua chuan tong yu gao kao zhi du gai ge (Chinese) [Social stratification, cultural tradition and reform of college entrance examination]. Theory and Practice of Education. (7), 22-26.

[10] Chen, L., 2019. Shao shu min zu gao kao jia fen zheng ce yan jiu hui gu yu zhan wang (Chinese) [Review and prospect of the research on the policy of bonus scores for ethnic minority candidates]. Education and Examinations. (3), 10-15.

[11] Ding, Y.Y., 2005. Shao shu min zu jiao yu ping deng wen ti ji zheng fu de jiao yu zheng ce xuan ze (Chinese) [Equality in education for ethnic minorities and educational policy alternative of the government]. Journal of Research on Education for Ethnic Minorities. (2), 17-22.

[12] Teng, X., Ma, X.Y., 2005. Zhong guo gao deng jiao yu de shao shu min zu you hui zheng ce yu jiao yu ping deng (Chinese) [China’s preferential policy to minority nationalities in higher education and education equality]. Ethno-national Studies. (5), 10-18+107.

[13] Du, W.J., Si, Y.W., 2014. Guan yu gao kao fen lei zhao kao mo shi de ruo gan si kao (Chinese) [Reviews on the mode of classified enrollment in the Gaokao]. Journal of Teaching and Management. (25), 73-76.

[14] Liu, B., 2020. Xin gao kao zhi du gai ge de xian zhuang yu si kao: zhi du bian qian de shi jiao (Chinese) [The status and reflection of new college entrance examination reform: The perspective of institutional change]. China Higher Education Research. (1), 35-41.

[15] Van Leeuwen, M.H., Maas, I., 2010. Historical studies of social mobility and stratification. Annual Review of Sociology. 36, 429-451.

[16] Parkin, F., 1969. Class stratification in socialist societies. The British Journal of Sociology. 20(4), 355-374. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/588921

[17] Hu, Y.Z., Ga, Y.Q., 2016. Zheng que ren shi shao shu min zu gao kao jia fen zheng ce (Chinese) [Proper understanding of the Gaokao policy of bonus scores for ethnic minority candidates]. Journal of South-Central University for Nationalities (Humanities and Social Sciences). (5), 18-22.

[18] Gao, Y.H., 2014. Shao shu min zu gao kao jia fen zheng ce xiao guo diao cha yan jiu (Chinese) [An investigation into the policy of bonus scores for minority candidates at the college entrance examination]. Journal of Guangxi University for Nationalities (Philosophy and Social Science Edition). (3), 94-99.

[19] Liao, Y., 2005. She hui fen ceng yu gao deng jiao yu de hu dong (Chinese) [The interaction between social stratification and higher education]. Modern University Education. (5), 63-66.

[20] Zhang, M., Zhang, X.M., Tu, X.J., 2016. Gao deng jiao yu neng da po she hui jie ceng gu hua ma? Ji yu you xu probit ban can shu gu ji ji xia pu li zhi fen jie de shi zheng fen xi (Chinese) [Does higher education break down social class solidification? An empirical study based on ordered-probit semi-parameter estimation and shapely value decomposition]. Journal of Finance and Economics. (8), 15-26.

[21] Ao, J.M., 2006. Ge ti ping deng ,yi huo qun ti ping deng: shao shu min zu gao deng jiao yu zhao sheng zheng ce li lun yan jiu (Chinese) [Individual equality or groups equality: Admission policy for minority students in Chinese higher education]. Tsinghua Journal of Education. (6), 70-74.

[22] Zhang, S.Y., 2010. Wo guo gao kao zhao sheng zhong shao shu min zu you hui zheng ce de xin si kao (Chinese) [New thoughts on preferential policy for ethnic minority students in college entrance examination in China]. Journal of Research on Education for Ethnic Minorities. (5), 5-9.

[23] Siqingerile, 2013. Jiao yu gong ping shi jiao xia shao shu min zu gao kao qing xie zheng ce de xian shi chong tu yu gai jin dui ce (Chinese) [Realistic conflicts and improvement counter measures of the preferential policy of the bonus scores for ethnic minority candidates from the perspective of educational equity]. China Youth Study. (2), 15-18+78.

[24] Huang, L.H., Qin, M.Z., Zhou, L.L., 2013. Xian fa shi ye xia shao shu min zu gao kao you hui zheng ce yu shou jiao yu quan de ping deng bao hu (Chinese) [The preferential policy for minority students in the college entrance examination and protection for the right to equal education in perspective of constitution]. Journal of Research on Education for Ethnic Minorities. (2), 37-41.

[25] Tang, D.X., 2002. Lun wo guo min zu jiao yu de you hui zheng ce (Chinese) [China’s preferential policies of ethnic education]. Journal of Research on Education for Ethnic Minorities. (1), 40-45.

[26] Lan, J., Xiao, F.X., 2014. Shao shu min zu gao kao you hui zheng ce de xiao ji xiao ying ji fan si: ji yu min zu qu yu zi zhi de shi jiao (Chinese) [Negative effects and reflections of the preferential policies for ethnic minorities in the Gaokao: From the perspective of ethnic regional autonomy]. Guangxi Social Sciences. (1), 188-191.

[27] Chen, X., Dong, Z., 2010. Gao deng jiao yu fen liu yu she hui fen ceng liu dong yan jiu hui su yu zhan wang (Chinese) [Retrospect and prospect of research on higher education diversion, social stratification and social mobility]. Journal of Central China Normal University (Humanities and Social Sciences). (3), 149-155.

[28] Jin, D.H., Wang, A.L., 2007. Guan yu wo guo shao shu min zu xue sheng gao kao you hui zhao sheng zheng ce ruo gan wen ti de si kao (Chinese) [Development, characteristics and consideration on the problems of preferential enrollment policy of university entrance examination for minority students in China]. Journal of Northwest Normal University. (1), 84-88.

[29] Bureau of Statistics of Guangxi, 1988. Guangxi di fang zhi (Chinese) [Local chronicles of Guangxi]. China Statistics Press: Guangxi.

[30] Oh, I., Lee, J.D., Heshmati, A., et al., 2009. Evaluation of credit guarantee policy using propensity score matching. Small Business Economics. 33, 335-351. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9102-5

[31] Abou-Chadi, T., Krause, W., 2020. The causal effect of radical right success on mainstream parties’ policy positions: A regression discontinuity approach. British Journal of Political Science. 50(3), 829-847. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123418000029

[32] Chelwa, G., van Walbeek, C., Blecher, E., 2017. Evaluating South Africa’s tobacco control policy using a synthetic control method. Tobacco Control. 26(5), 509-517. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053011

[33] Chen, Y., Zhou, L.A., 2007. The long-term health and economic consequences of the 1959-1961 famine in China. Journal of Health Economics. 26(4), 659-681. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2006.12.006

[34] Cheng, L.G., Zhang, Y., 2011. Zao nian de ji huang jing li ying xiang le ren men de chu xu xing wei ma? Dui wo guo ju min gao chu xu lv de yi ge xin jie shi (Chinese) [Does famine experience in childhood influence one’s saving decision? A New explanation of China’s high household saving rate]. Economic Research Journal. (8), 119-132.

[35] Fan, W., Qian, Y., 2015. Long-term health and socioeconomic consequences of early-life exposure to the 1959-1961 Chinese Famine. Social Science Research. 49, 53-69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.07.007

[36] Chen, Y., Fan, Z., Gu, X., et al., 2020. Arrival of young talent: The send-down movement and rural education in China. American Economic Review. 110(11), 3393-3430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20191414

[37] Tang, C., Zhao, L., Zhao, Z., 2020. Does free education help combat child labor? The effect of a free compulsory education reform in rural China. Journal of Population Economics. 33(2), 601-631. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00148-019-00741-w

[38] Wu, X.W., Cao, Z.D., Wu, H.T., 2022. Gao deng jiao yu kuo zhang yu xiao jia ting jue qi: lai zi da xue kuo zhao zheng ce de zheng ju (Chinese) [Higher education expansion and the miniaturization of family size—Evidence from China’s enrollment expansion policy]. Sociological Studies. (3), 92-114+228.

[39] Qiu, L.P., 2001. Zhi ye di wei: she hui fen ceng de zhi shi qi—Shanghai she hui jie gou yu she hui fen ceng yan jiu (Chinese) [Occupational status—An indicator of social stratification: A study on shanghai social structure and social stratification]. Sociological Study. (3), 18-33.

[40] Xu, X.X., 2000. Cong zhi ye ping jia yu ze ye qu xiang zhong kan zhong guo she hui jie gou bian qian (Chinese) [Viewing the changes of China’s social structure from occupation evaluation and occupation orientation]. Sociological Study. (3), 67-85.

[41] Belkhir, J.A., Barnett, B.M., 2001. Race, gender and class intersectionality. Race, Gender & Class. 8(3), 157-174.

[42] Deng, Q.H., 2007. Cheng zhen ju min yu liu dong ren kou de shou ru cha yi: ji yu Oaxaca-Blinder he Quantile fang fa de fen jie (Chinese) [Earnings differential between urban residents and rural migrants: Evidence from Oaxaca-Blinder and quantile regression decompositions]. Chinese Journal of Population Science. (2), 8-16+95.

[43] Meng, F.Q., Deng, B.G., 2014. Lao dong li shi chang hu ji qi shi yu cheng xiang gong zi cha yi: ji yu fen wei shu hui gui yu fen jie de fen xi (Chinese) [Discrimination of household registration in the labor market and differences of urban-rural wage: An analysis based on quantile regression and decomposition]. Chinese Rural Economy. (6), 56-65.

[44] Yao, Y.J., 2019. Shuang chong cha fen yu san chong cha fen mo xing: yi ge jian ming jie shao (Chinese) [A brief introduction: Difference-in-difference model and difference-in-difference-in-difference model]. Journal of Translation from Foreign Literature of Economics. (1), 24-28.

[45] Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, 2019. Zhong guo zhu hu diao cha nian jian (Chinese) [China yearbook of household survey]. China Statistics Press: Beijing.

[46] Torche, F., 2015. Analyses of intergenerational mobility: An interdisciplinary review. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 657(1), 37-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716214547476

[47] Gu, H., 2013. She hui fen ceng zhong de xing bie bu ping deng: ji yu dui zhong guo di san qi fu nv she hui di wei diao cha shu ju de fen xi (Chinese) [On the gender inequality in social stratification: An analysis based on the data of the 3rd Chinese women’s social status survey]. Journal of Shandong Women’s University. (4), 31-40.

[48] Scherr, R.E., Robertson, A.D., 2017. Unveiling privilege to broaden participation. The Physics Teacher. 55(7), 394-397. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5003737

[49] Lu, X.Y., Zhang, H.Y., Zhang, Q.Z., 1992. Zhuan xing shi qi nong min de jie ceng fen hua: dui Dazhai, Liuzhuang, Huaxi deng 13 ge cun zhuang de shi zheng yan jiu (Chinese) [Social stratification of farmers in the transitional period: Empirical studies of 13 villages in Dazhai, Liuzhuang and Huaxi]. Social Sciences in China. (4), 137-151.

[50] Bureau of Statistics of Beijing, 2019. Beijing di fang zhi (Chinese) [Local chronicles of Beijing]. China Statistics Press: Beijing.

[51] Bureau of Statistics of Shanghai, 2019. Shang hai di fang zhi (Chinese) [Local chronicles of Shanghai]. China Statistics Press: Shanghai.

[52] Hong, Y.B., 2010. Zu qun yu jiao yu bu ping deng: wo guo xi bu shao shu min zu jiao yu huo de de yi xiang shi zheng yan jiu (Chinese) [Ethnic groups and educational inequalities: An empirical study of the educational attainment of the ethnic minorities in western China]. Chinese Journal of Sociology. (2), 45-73.

Downloads

How to Cite

Ti, L., Yang, X., & Zhou, W. (2023). Higher Education Admission Policy and Social Class of Ethnic Minority: The Case of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Macro Management & Public Policies, 5(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.30564/mmpp.v5i3.5789

Issue

Article Type

Articles (This article belongs to the Special Issue "Social-Economic Inequity and Policy Innovation")