Cohort: SOMET 40

Topic of the thesis: Beyond Credentials: Examining Overeducation, Meritocracy and Well-being in Stratified Societies

Abstract: Recent advances in sociology and economics have framed overeducation as a distinct form of labor market stratification. Researchers have examined how ascribed attributes such as gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status relate to overeducation—defined as the condition in which individuals hold jobs that require less education than they possess. Given that educational qualifications are often perceived as reflecting individual effort and ability, overeducation challenges the widely held belief in meritocracy, the notion that the system rewards talent and hard work. While the relationship between meritocratic beliefs and overeducation holds explanatory potential, it has yet to be fully explored. This work seeks to fill that gap.
First, this project investigates how perceptions of meritocracy shape long-term labor market outcomes, particularly the emergence and persistence of overeducation. Building on the seminal work of Garcia Serra (2023), we hypothesize that: (i) individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds with strong meritocratic beliefs are more likely to experience overeducation, and (ii) low self-efficacy and frustration contribute to the persistence of this condition.
Secondly, the study seeks to deepen our understanding of the established link between overeducation and job dissatisfaction by exploring the moderating role of meritocratic beliefs.
The third research question examines the relationship between educational expansion and overeducation from a social stratification perspective. Specifically, we assess whether cultural capital and social background help mitigate the risk of overeducation, using the Bologna Process as a large-scale natural experiment. Initiated in 1999, the reform expanded access to education by significantly increasing student enrollment. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the effect of the Bologna Process on overeducation across different social backgrounds.

Research interests: Social stratification, health and educational inequalities, econometrics for program evaluation, longitudinal data.

Graduated from: Università degli Studi di Torino

Degrees obtained: BA in Economics and Statistics; MA in Economics and Management

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