社会资本对美国少数民族参与高等教育的影响

      一、问题的提出

      美国高等教育入学机会均等问题已经引起研究者和决策者的极大关注。研究发现，在高等教育参与问题上存在明显的人种和民族差异。（注：Cardoza,D.(1991).College attendance and persistence among Hispanic women:An examination of some contributing factors.Sex Roles,24,133-147.

      Carter,D.F.(1999).The impact of institutional choice and environments on African-American and white students' degree expectations.Research in Higher Education,40(1),17-41.

      Fenske,R.H.,Porter,J.D.,& DuBrock,C.P.(2000).Tracking financiai aid and persistence of women,minority,and needy students in science,engineering,and mathematics.Research in Higher Education,41(1),67-94.）一般来说，中学毕业后，白人立即进入大学的可能性比黑人和西班牙裔大。1993年至1995年间，白人的平均入学率比黑人和西班牙裔高9%。此外，黑人和西班牙裔毕业生事实上不大可能像白人一样进入4年制大学。（注：NCES(1997).The Condition of Education 1997.Washington,DC:U.S.Department of Education,NCES.）从教育政策的角度考虑，如果要采取措施来改变这种状况，就必须考察这些现象是怎样产生的，原因如何。

       以往对高等教育入学率影响因素的研究主要有两类。第一类的研究集中在家庭收入和财政资助对大学入学的影响。在此方面，圣·约翰(John)及其助手们（注：St.John,E.P.(1989).The impact of student aid on access to higher education:An analysis of progress with special consideration of minority enrollment.Research in Higher Education,30,563-581.

      St.John,E.P.(1990).Price response in enrollment decisions:An analysis of the high school and beyond sophomore cohort.Research in Higher Education,31(2),161-176.

      St.John,E.P.(1994).Assessing tuition and student aid strategies:Using price-response measures to simulate pricing alternatives.Research in Higher Education,35(3),301-334.）的研究最具代表性。他们的研究结果表明，财政资助对入学的影响比学费大。而且，他们发现在提高入学率方面，少数民族学生对助学金的关注超过贷款。（注：Braunstein,A.,McGrath,M.,& Pescatrice,D.(1999).Measuring the impact of income and financial aid offers on college enrollment decisions.Research in Higher Education,40(3),247-259.）第二类将高等教育作为投资来研究。研究发现，投资回报—大学学位带来的利益，是影响入学选择的重要因素。（注：Becker,W.E.(1990).The demand for higher education.In S.A.Hoenack & E.L.Collins(eds.),The Economics of American Universities(155-188).Albany,NY:State University of New York Press.

      Becker,W.E.(1992).Why go to college?The value of an investment in higher education.In W.E.Becker & D.R.Lewis(eds.),The Economics of American Higher Education(pp.91-120).Boston:Kluwer Academic Publishers.