Youth pathways and factors of Spanish univeristy demand for 2009

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the demand for university studies, its factors and its transitional dimensions. We present an updated analysis of university studies demand in Spain with data from the EPA module of 2009. This module allows analyzing independent youth jointly with their social background, thus avoiding losing 33% of the sample. We identify the main factors considered in previous research, and build a model of educational demand evaluated for 2009 during the economic crisis using binary logistic regression. Biographical aspects are also introduced in the analysis to observe the importance of youth pathways in the demand for university studies and their relation with the model factors. It is noted that inequalities in educational demand are still present in 2009, which are explained by economic difficulties, gender, and social background. The relationship with the labour market and housing situation are two elements that improve and modify the proposed model of educational demand, showing the relevance of a transitional dimension.