Palma Carvajal, Maria Isidora; (2025) Essays on Educational Inequalities. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This PhD dissertation investigates how various factors shape educational outcomes in the Chilean context. It comprises four substantive studies examining the influence of students’ relative standing among peers, the alignment between students’ academic preparation and their higher education degrees, and the educational consequences of adolescent parenthood. Chapter 1 examines the relationship between a student’s academic and socioeconomic standing within the classroom and their subsequent educational progression. The analysis shows that students with higher academic or socioeconomic rankings relative to their peers tend to experience more favourable educational outcomes. This suggests that socioeconomic standing is associated with educational progression, even when academic rank is accounted for. Chapter 2 addresses higher education student–degree mismatch in Chile, focusing on a 2016 tuition-free reform. The results indicate that low-achieving students were more likely to "overmatch" into selective programs following the policy change. Additionally, that overall, being well-matched does not have a relevant effect on completion rates, and individual achievement and degree quality remain the strongest predictors. Chapter 3 examines the short-run effects of adolescent motherhood and fatherhood on secondary school enrolment. Using administrative data and an event-study design, it shows that school enrolment drops sharply around the time of childbirth for both teenage mothers and fathers, with mothers experiencing a larger and more persistent decline, especially among youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. Chapter 4 further compares educational outcomes of young mothers versus fathers. Leveraging longitudinal data, it reveals that while both teen mothers and fathers suffer significant educational disruptions, the magnitude and duration of schooling loss are greater for mothers. Teenage fatherhood also carries notable educational costs, though less severe than motherhood. Overall, the dissertation highlights how both contextual factors (peer rank and college match) and life events (early parenthood) shape educational trajectories, offering evidence to inform policies for improving educational attainment and equity.

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