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Educational Credentialism and Elite Formation in Japan: A Long-term Perspective

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  • Daiji Kawaguchi
  • Hiroshi Ono

Abstract

In spite of the significant restructuring of the university system in the postwar period, national universities continue to occupy the top end of the prestige hierarchy of universities in Japan. In this paper, we examine long-term trends in the educational credentials of Japanese corporate executives. We use high-quality data from the directory of corporate executives to assess whether the mechanisms of elite production has changed over time. We find that the fraction of corporate executives graduating from private universities increased significantly, in accordance with the massive expansion of private universities in the postwar period. At the same time, our cohort-based analysis finds that private university graduates are being recruited into executive positions at a pace that exceeds its natural growth rate. Our findings weaken the view that certain prestigious universities are stable institutions to reproduce the nation's elites. The improved access to university education results in greater educational diversity and heterogeneity among the nation's elites.

Suggested Citation

  • Daiji Kawaguchi & Hiroshi Ono, 2013. "Educational Credentialism and Elite Formation in Japan: A Long-term Perspective," Working Papers e054, Tokyo Center for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:tcr:wpaper:e54
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Weiss, 1995. "Human Capital vs. Signalling Explanations of Wages," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 9(4), pages 133-154, Fall.
    2. Rebick, Marcus E, 2000. "The Importance of Networks in the Market for University Graduates in Japan: A Longitudinal Analysis of Hiring Patterns," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 52(3), pages 471-496, July.
    3. Ono, Hiroshi, 2007. "Does examination hell pay off ? A cost-benefit analysis of "ronin" and college education in Japan," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 271-284, June.
    4. Kawaguchi, Daiji & Ma, Wenjie, 2008. "The causal effect of graduating from a top university on promotion: Evidence from the University of Tokyo's 1969 admission freeze," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 184-196, April.
    5. Kawaguchi, Daiji, 2011. "Actual age at school entry, educational outcomes, and earnings," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 64-80, June.
    6. Ono, Hiroshi, 2000. "Training the Nation's Elite: National - Private Sector Differences in Japanese University Education," EIJS Working Paper Series 96, Stockholm School of Economics, The European Institute of Japanese Studies.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kenjiro Hirata & Shinpei Sano & Katsuya Takii, 2021. "How can a college's admissions policies help produce future business leaders?," OSIPP Discussion Paper 21E003, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.

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