The Impact of Economic Policies on the Equality of Educational Opportunities in Iran

  Inequality, nowadays, is one of the main concerns in developmental plans and as a result expansion of basic opportunities and their fair distribution is a part and parcel of any roadmap to development. However, the economic policies of the country can inform any attempt in this regard. To estimate the extent to which such policies have impacted equal and timely access to education in Iran, the data collected on household budget, especially the individual, family, and provincial factors, were used in a regression analysis. Furthermore, the impact of two scenarios of reduction in poverty rate and the level of poverty on the probability of access to education and fair distribution of educational opportunities was assessed. Results show that city dwelling, head of the household’s level of education, household income, and home ownership is directly related to the probability of children’s timely access to appropriate grade level, just as the number of children under 15 years of age in the household is reversely related. Furthermore, residency in certain provinces also impacts the said probability. Gender and the kinship between child and the head of the household have no impact. However, any reduction of poverty rate or level does lead to better chance of timely access and fair distribution of educational opportunities.