A study of private tuition inequality: focusing on the private tuition Gini coefficient, the Hoover index and the Palma ratio

Objectives This study aims to find a way to measure the degree of inequality in private education expenditures in Korea and to analyze trends in inequality. Methods We analyzed the private education expenditures survey conducted by the Ministry of Education to find an index that indicates the inequality of private education expenditures, and obtained each index by year to under-stand the trend. Results The average private education expenditures per person is increasing, and the analysis of private education expenditures inequality using the Gini coefficient, the Hoover index, and the Palma ratio shows that inequality is increasing, especially in elementary schools. In 2020, during the COVID-19 situation, the private education Gini coefficient increased rapidly as the private education participation rate decreased in elementary and middle schools, but this phenomenon was not found in high schools. Conclusions The Gini coefficient, Hoover index, and Palma ratio, which indicate the degree of inequality in private education, can be obtained for the entire population and participants, but considering that the case where private education expenditures are 0 has a significant impact, it may be more appropriate to limit it to participants. The Gini coefficient, which indicates income inequality, is on the decline, but the Gini coefficient for private education expenditures for participants is increasing, and since private education is linked to the problems of low birth rate and local extinction that our society faces, special measures are needed to reduce private education.