Educational Expansion in Africa (1965–2010): Implications for Economic Inequality between Countries

Advocates of expanding global education herald it as “the best investment in development” but also “a great equalizer.” However, previous literature has almost exclusively focused on the role of education in shaping inequality within, rather than between, countries. Using data from Sub-Saharan Africa from 1965–2010, we ask two questions: (1) Did education work as an economic equalizer during that time period? (2) If so, which aspect (quantity vs. quality) was most influential? We rely on a decomposition method to elaborate our answers to these two questions. Our analyses of recent patterns in Africa confirm education as a very influential force, which accounted for nearly half of the trends in rising inequality occurring during the study period. As far as reducing GDP inequality among African countries over this study period is concerned, schooling levels were more important quantitatively (total effect), but school quality was more so qualitatively (direction of effect).