PUBLIC SPENDING ON EDUCATION AND INEQUALITIES. A LIFE-CYCLE PERSPECTIVE

In this article, we measure the redistributive impact of education expenses when financed publicly. We consider a life-cycle perspective and estimate, for each individual, the education expenses received and the taxes paid during his or her foreseen career. We conclude that the public financing of non-compulsory education slightly increases inequality, while the public financing of compulsory education strongly diminishes inequalities among individuals of a same generation. However, these transfers seem to matter far less than the differences in future income due to an unequal access to higher education based on social origin.