ABSTRACT
Earlier research in the Netherlands has shown that the educational expansion has resulted in a decrease of the intergenerational transmission of level of education. This study extends that research to include field of study as an educational resource into the status attainment model. This clearly has led to a more nuanced picture. We foremost have found that field of study is important with regard to the intergenerational transmission of educational inequality and that its relevance has increased over time. The move to a mass system of higher education, with state-funded stipends and where the signalling role of parental level of education has declined, meant that upperclass parents invest more of their time in the transfer of field-specific resources to preserve social reproduction. This illustrates that educational expansion does not necessarily lead to a more meritocratic society in terms of educational outcomes.
