Conference Program

Educational inequality remains one of the most persistent and structurally embedded forms of social disparity, with long-term consequences for individual life chances, social mobility, and regional development (Hanushek and Woessmann, 2008). This study aims to systematize the main determinants of educational inequality by developing an integrated analytical framework that brings together socioeconomic, demographic, and spatial dimensions. Drawing on interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical contributions, the study identifies five core drivers of unequal educational access and outcomes: socioeconomic status, parental education, ethnicity, gender, and geographical location.

Socioeconomic status emerges as a central mechanism shaping access to educational resources, school quality, and extracurricular opportunities (see Lou at al., 2022). Parental education influences not only material conditions but also cultural capital, aspirations, and educational support within households (Biagi et al., 2022). Ethnicity and gender introduce additional layers of structural disadvantage, often operating through discrimination, social norms, and differential expectations that affect both access, performance and educational trajectories (Borgna & Contini, 2014; Tsai, Smith, & Hauser 2018). Geographical location—whether defined in terms of urban–rural divides, regional disparities, or neighborhood effects—further amplifies inequalities by influencing school infrastructure, peer environments, and local labor market prospects (see, for example, Acciari, Polo, and Violante, 2022).

Rather than treating these determinants as isolated factors, the paper emphasizes their interaction and cumulative effects. Educational inequality is conceptualized as the outcome of overlapping disadvantages that reinforce one another across spatial and social contexts. Particular attention is devoted to the territorial dimension of inequality, highlighting how regional and local dynamics shape the distribution of opportunities and contribute to persistent intergenerational disparities.

By organizing and synthesizing the main explanatory mechanisms, this study provides a coherent structure for future empirical research and policy design. Understanding the multifaceted and spatially embedded nature of educational inequality is essential for developing targeted interventions aimed at promoting equal opportunities and fostering inclusive socioeconomic development.