UNLV-Econ-WPS-2026-007
Social Determinants of Low Educational Attainment
Working paper notice: This paper is a preliminary research output. It has undergone editorial screening but has not undergone external peer review. It may be revised.
Paper record
- Issue
- Fall 2025
- Repository issue
- Volume 3, Issue 1
- Series number
- UNLV-Econ-WPS-2026-007
- Citable publication date
- OAsis online date
- Current version
- Current version ·
- Research field
- Economics of Education
- Pages
- 1-13
Abstract
This paper examines how socioeconomic and demographic factors influence low educational attainment across U.S. cities. The analysis estimates both a linear regression model and a semi-log model to evaluate how poverty, unemployment, family structure, age composition, overcrowding, racial and ethnic minority share, broadband access, and housing cost burden affect the percentage of adults without a high school diploma. The results show that poverty, overcrowding, and minority share are the strongest predictors of low educational attainment, each exhibiting positive and highly significant effects. Overall, the findings highlight the role of social factors in shaping educational outcomes in high school.
Keywords
Educational attainment, Poverty, Socioeconomic factors, Demographic, Social determinants, Inequality, Structural inequalities
Version history
- Current version Current