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Life-cycle educational choices in a system with early tracking and ‘second chance’ options

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  • Biewen, Martin
  • Tapalaga, Madalina

Abstract

We study life-cycle educational transitions in the German education system which is characterized by early tracking and institutionalized branches of academic and vocational training, but with the possibility to revise earlier decisions at later stages. Our econometric model covers all major transitions ranging from primary education through secondary schooling to different forms of tertiary education and vocational training. We consider the role of previous decisions and background characteristics at each decision node and also study ‘indirect’ routes through the system. Our results suggest that a considerable proportion of the population takes ‘second chance’ decisions but that these decisions are as socially selective as the standard routes through the system. We also model unobserved heterogeneity and document the sorting of individuals along unobserved characteristics across the stages of the system.

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  • Biewen, Martin & Tapalaga, Madalina, 2017. "Life-cycle educational choices in a system with early tracking and ‘second chance’ options," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 80-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:56:y:2017:i:c:p:80-94
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2016.11.008
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    7. Falk, Armin & Kosse, Fabian & Pinger, Pia, 2020. "Mentoring and Schooling Decisions: Causal Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 13387, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Oosterbeek, Hessel & ter Meulen, Simon & van der Klaauw, Bas, 2021. "Long-term effects of school-starting-age rules," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Schwerter, Jakob & Netz, Nicolai & Hübner, Nicolas, 2024. "Does instructional time at school influence study time at university? Evidence from an instructional time reform," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    10. Marc Piopiunik, 2021. "How Does Reducing the Intensity of Tracking Affect Student Achievement? Evidence from German State Reforms," CESifo Working Paper Series 9214, CESifo.
    11. Philipp Kugler, 2022. "The role of wage beliefs in the decision to become a nurse," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 94-111, January.
    12. Hügle, Dominik, 2021. "The decision to enrol in higher education," Discussion Papers 2021/8, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    13. Celeste K. Carruthers & Christopher Jepsen, 2020. "Vocational Education: An International Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 8718, CESifo.
    14. Bonin, Holger & Boockmann, Bernhard & Brändle, Tobias & Bredtmann, Julia & Brussig, Martin & Dorner, Matthias & Fehn, Rebecca & Frings, Hanna & Glemser, Axel & Haas, Anette & Höckel, Lisa Sofie & Hube, 2020. "Begleitevaluation der arbeitsmarktpolitischen Integrationsmaßnahmen für Geflüchtete – Zweiter Zwischenbericht –," IZA Research Reports 94, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Wessling, Katarina & van der Velden, Rolf, 2021. "Flexibility in educational systems - Concept, indicators, and directions for future research," Research Memorandum 006, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    16. Anne Zühlke & Philipp Kugler & Tim Ruhberg, 2022. "Hetreogeneity in Log-Term Returns to Education - An Inconvenient Truth," IAW Discussion Papers 140, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).
    17. Saniter, Nils & Schnitzlein, Daniel D. & Siedler, Thomas, 2019. "Occupational knowledge and educational mobility: Evidence from the introduction of job information centers," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 108-124.
    18. Lisha Agarwal & Giorgio Brunello & Lorenzo Rocco, 2021. "The Pathways to College," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(4), pages 554-595.
    19. Biewen, Martin & (neé Tapalaga), Madalina Thiele, 2020. "Early tracking, academic vs. vocational training, and the value of ‘second-chance’ options," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    20. Natalie Obergruber, 2018. "Microeconometric Analysis of Individual and Institutional Determinants of Education and Occupational Choice," ifo Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 80.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tracking; Intergenerational mobility; Vocational training; Non-standard transitions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling

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