Horizontal stratification of higher education in Russia Trends, gender differences, and labor market outcomes

• Published in: Sociology of education Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 32 - 59
• Main Authors: Gerber, Theodore P, Schaefer, David R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA American Sociological Association 2004; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Academic degrees; Akademiker; Arbeitsmarkt; Berufschance; College Students; Differentiation; Earnings; Economic models; Education Work Relationship; Einkommen; Empirische Untersuchung; Employment; Employment Opportunities; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Gender roles; Geschlechtsspezifischer Unterschied; Higher Education; Individualized Instruction; Job opportunities; Kosten; Labor; Labor Market; Labor Market Segmentation; Labor markets; Labour market; Market forces; Men; Post-Soviet era; Postcommunist societies; Russia; Russland; Segmentation; Sex Differences; Social Stratification; Sociology; Sociology of education. Educational systems. Lifelong education; Soviet studies; Sowjetunion; Specialization; Stratification; Student; Studienfach; Studium; Teilzeitstudium; Time study; Trends; United States; Universities; Vergleichsuntersuchung; Soviet period; United States; Russia; United States > US; Labor Market; Curriculum Subject; Salary; Higher Education; Variability; Gender difference; Post-communism; Student; Part Time; Specialization; University; Comparison; Financing; Full-time; Outlet
• ISSN: 0038-0407; 1939-8573
• DOI: 10.1177/003804070407700102

Using data collected in fall 2000, the authors analyzed four aspects of "horizontal" variation among Russian university students: field of specialization, cost (paid versus free), intensity (full- versus part-time study), and timing of study (Soviet versus post-Soviet era). For each type of variation, they examined trends over time, gender differences, and effects on earning and employment opportunities. In Russia, as elsewhere, horizontad differentiation of higher education has stratifying consequences. Unlike in many countries, gender differences along horizontal dimensions have not narrowed in Russia; in fact, the gender gap in part-time study has widened. But the introduction of market forces in higher education and the economy has shaped both male and female distribution across specialty, cost, and intensity. The labor market advantages accruing to a university degree differ across these horizontal dimensions and by the timing of the degree. Some of the patterns observed in Russia resemble those in the United Sttates, while others are distinctive. (DIPF/Orig.).