Lohnunterschiede im Spannungsfeld von sozialer Herkunft und individueller Bildung: Eine vergleichende Analyse für Deutschland und die Schweiz

Human Capital Theory is the dominating approach to explain individual wage differences. Consequently, the available stock of human capital in general and of the educational level in particular is the central characteristic for individual labour market success respectively the amount of wages. Accordingly, differences of wages can be justified on the basis of productivity differences arising as a result from unequal educational qualifications. However, the Status Attainment Theory postulates a close relationship between social origin, individual education and personal labour market success. Accordingly, the social status of the parents affects the formal educational qualification of children, which in turn influences the vocational status and therefore the wages. At the same time, social origin can have a direct effect on earnings. Against this background this paper investigates the relevance of social origin for educational success with special focus on the labour market success in Germany and Switzerland. It is argued that both countries show similarities concerning the relation between social origin, education and income.