Does education transmit across generations? An evidence from Multan district (Pakistan)

Abstract

Purpose

It is consensus among the social scientist that education plays a vital role in human capital formation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of education transmission across generations.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected from 613 households which were selected by applying the systematic random sampling technique. By using education as a continuous variable, the human capital base model has been estimated. These models have been estimated by applying the OLS technique.

Findings

The study finds persistence in education across generations and inequality in educational achievements. Mother’s education is found to be more important for daughters in the gender analysis but for combined effect father’s education has been observed stronger than mothers. The models with interaction terms have shown a stronger son-father and daughter-mother association in educational transmission. Moreover, findings exhibit that females are more educated as compared to males.

Research limitations/implications

This study is providing a new dimension to the social scientist about the importance of education especially in a developing country like Pakistan.

Practical implications

The results of this study provide the guidelines to the policy makers and giving them the direction about the incremental change of the human capital through the intergenerational transmission mechanism.

Social implications

The findings of this study can be used for upgrading of the social set up of a developing country like Pakistan.

Originality/value

This is an original effort and the first time this type of study is conducted in Pakistan.

Citation

Sharif, F., Khawaja, M.J. and Azid, T. (2016), "Does education transmit across generations? An evidence from Multan district (Pakistan)", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 43 No. 7, pp. 760-778. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-11-2014-0222