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The progressivity of public education in Greece: empirical findings and policy implications

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  • Christos Koutsampelas
  • Panos Tsakloglou

Abstract

This paper examines the short-run distributional effects of publicly provided education services in Greece using static incidence analysis. Public education is found to be inequality-reducing but the progressivity of the system withers away as we move up to higher educational levels. We employ a framework of both relative and absolute inequality measurement and discuss the merits of the latter. Under this alternative setting, primary education transfers retain their progressivity, the progressivity of secondary education transfers diminishes and tertiary education becomes clearly regressive. Lastly, we simulate the first-round fiscal and distributional effects of a hypothetical graduate tax imposed on current graduates.

Suggested Citation

  • Christos Koutsampelas & Panos Tsakloglou, 2015. "The progressivity of public education in Greece: empirical findings and policy implications," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(5), pages 596-611, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:edecon:v:23:y:2015:i:5:p:596-611
    DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2014.884999
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Ines Barbosa Camargo & Antonio García Sánchez & Mª Luisa Ridao Carlini, 2016. "Influencia de las ayudas financieras en el acceso a estudios universitarios: El caso de Colombia," Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación volume 11, in: José Manuel Cordero Ferrera & Rosa Simancas Rodríguez (ed.), Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación 11, edition 1, volume 11, chapter 4, pages 91-110, Asociación de Economía de la Educación.
    2. Andreou, Sofia N. & Koutsampelas, Christos, 2015. "Intergenerational mobility and equality of opportunity in higher education in Cyprus," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 80-87.
    3. Hügle, Dominik, 2020. "Higher education funding in Germany: A distributional lifetime perspective," Discussion Papers 2021/1, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    4. Bizopoulou, Aspasia & Megalokonomou, Rigissa & Simion, Ştefania, 2024. "Do second chances pay off? Evidence from a natural experiment with low-achieving students," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    5. Vanesa Jorda & Jose M. Alonso, 2020. "What works to mitigate and reduce relative (and absolute) inequality?: A systematic review," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-152, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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