Does rational choice theory explain the inequality of educational opportunity? A critical discussion of an article by Rolf Becker

There are several plausible arguments which make it obvious to apply Ration al Choice Theory to the process of educational opportunities and equality. Looking more closely at an empirical application or RC theory, several seri ous problems emerge: They concern the operationalization of the variables, the explanatory power of the central variables related to Subjective Expect ed Utility, the systematic omission of important variables relating to indi vidual persons and their identity, and to social structural and institution al factors; the latter seem to be much more important than those indicated by RC approaches.