Sibling Similarity in Education in Europe: Trends Across Birth Cohorts (1945–1992) and a Test of the Great Gatsby Curve

Le résumé fourni par la source

Sibling similarity in education is a more comprehensive measure of the effects of family background on education than the similarity between parents and children in their education. We study sibling similarity in educational attainment across 27 EU countries and Switzerland. Using Eurobarometer and Swiss registry data, we analyze changes across birth cohorts from 1945 to 1992. These data also allow us to better test the Great Gatsby Curve (GGC). The GGC states that increases in income inequality lead to increasing effects of family background. Consequently, with rising income inequality, sibling similarity in education should increase. Our findings reveal significant variation in sibling similarity across countries, yet to a large degree stability across cohorts. The GGC is supported based on variation across countries, but not across cohorts. These findings cast doubt on the central mechanism underlying the GGC, as an increase in income inequality in one country does not lead to stronger family background effects on education in that country.

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