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‘White flight’ in Milan: School segregation as a result of home-to-school mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Marta Cordini

    (Politecnico di Milano, Italy)

  • Andrea Parma

    (Politecnico di Milano, Italy)

  • Costanzo Ranci

    (Politecnico di Milano, Italy)

Abstract

The paper aims to show how and to what extent the system of compulsory education in Milan is affected by social and ethnic segregation. We argue that, despite being guided by the general criteria of universal access and equality of treatment, not only do Milan’s schools fail to counter socio-economic inequalities and differentiation along ethnic lines in an effective manner, but they actually tend to amplify and entrench them. We begin with a theoretical discussion of the main factors contributing to school segregation and a general overview of Italy’s compulsory education system. This is followed by a presentation of the empirical case of Milan, analysing social and ethnic segregation of children of primary school age (i.e. 6–10 years) by place of residence and school of enrolment. As a clear gap emerges between the ‘natural’ and the ‘actual’ school composition, our analytical focus then shifts to home-to-school mobility as an expression of parental choice. We show that 56% of all students in Milan do not enrol at local state schools and this is due to two main phenomena: families choosing private schools and families moving within the state school system. The analysis of these movements makes it possible to identify avoidance dynamics (i.e., in which disadvantaged or ethnic areas are avoided), as well as incoming mobility towards private schools and state schools located in affluent areas or with a lower intake of pupils of non-Italian ethnic backgrounds.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Cordini & Andrea Parma & Costanzo Ranci, 2019. "‘White flight’ in Milan: School segregation as a result of home-to-school mobility," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(15), pages 3216-3233, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:56:y:2019:i:15:p:3216-3233
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019836661
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beckert, Jens & Musselin, Christine (ed.), 2013. "Constructing Quality: The Classification of Goods in Markets," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199677573.
    2. Willem R Boterman, 2019. "The role of geography in school segregation in the free parental choice context of Dutch cities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(15), pages 3074-3094, November.
    3. Allen, Rebecca & Burgess, Simon, 2013. "Evaluating the provision of school performance information for school choice," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 175-190.
    4. Isabel Ramos Lobato & Thomas Groos, 2019. "Choice as a duty? The abolition of primary school catchment areas in North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany and its impact on parent choice strategies," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(15), pages 3274-3291, November.
    5. Gibbons, Steve & Machin, Stephen, 2003. "Valuing English primary schools," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 197-219, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alfredo Cartone & Domenica Panzera, 2021. "Deprivation at local level: Practical problems and policy implications for the province of Milan," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(1), pages 43-61, February.
    2. Tani, Massimiliano & Xu, Lei & Zhu, Yu, 2021. "The impact of an un(der)funded inclusive education policy: Evidence from the 2013 China education panel survey," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 768-784.

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