The effect of free primary school choice on ethnic groups: Evidence from a policy reform

Arbeitspapier

In 2008, school districts were abolished in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous German federal state. Critics have argued that free school choice will lead to increased segregation and educational disparities. The data used is from Wuppertal, a major city in NRW. Since the Turkish population is the largest minority in Germany, but also one of the least integrated, the focus of this paper is on the effect of the new school law on the school choice of Turkish (Muslim) versus non-Turkish (non-Muslim) families. Free school choice has led, in fact, to increased choice on the part of both advantaged and (to a lesser extent) disadvantaged families. Motives behind choice include proximity, the composition of the school, and the academic quality of the school. The effect of this increased choice on segregation is inconclusive.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Schumpeter Discussion Papers ; No. 2011-007

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Education and Research Institutions: General ; State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions ; Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
• Subject: Educational policy reform ; school districts ; school choice ; segregation ; Bildungsreform ; Nordrhein-Westfalen ; Türken ; Schulauswahl ; Wuppertal

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Schneider, Kerstin ; Schuchart, Claudia ; Weishaupt, Horst ; Riedel, Andrea
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): University of Wuppertal, Schumpeter School of Business and Economics
• (where): Wuppertal
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/68702
• URN: urn:nbn:de:hbz:468-20110616-093503-7
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET