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Der Einfluss des Einkommens der Eltern auf die Schulwahl

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  • Thorsten Schneider

Abstract

The impact of parents' education and social position on their children's educational career is very well known for Germany. However, there is little research on the influence of parental income. The costs of longer-lasting school tracks and the financial opportunities of the parents are crucial in models on educational choice. This article examines the connection between income and school tracking, looking at the transition from primary school to one of the three main types of German secondary schools, using the data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) from the years 1984 to 2003. The analysis shows that a good income position fosters thetransition into the top level "Gymnasium", hinders the shift into the lowest level "Hauptschule", and has hardly any effect on the middle level "Realschule". However, the impact of income is relatively small compared to that of parental education. Income during early childhood has a stronger effect than income at the time of deciding on a school. It might be that a good economic position at earlier ages leads to an advantageous development. The study can not definitely confirm the claim made by educational choice theory, that costs really are important at this early point in the German educational system.

Suggested Citation

  • Thorsten Schneider, 2004. "Der Einfluss des Einkommens der Eltern auf die Schulwahl," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 446, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp446
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    File URL: https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.42558.de/dp446.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gary S. Becker & Nigel Tomes, 1994. "Human Capital and the Rise and Fall of Families," NBER Chapters, in: Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, Third Edition, pages 257-298, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Jenkins, Stephen P. & Schluter, Christian, 2002. "The Effect of Family Income During Childhood on Later-Life Attainment: Evidence from Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 604, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. SOEP Group, 2001. "The German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) after More than 15 Years: Overview," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 70(1), pages 7-14.
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    Cited by:

    1. Müller, Sven & Tscharaktschiew, Stefan & Haase, Knut, 2008. "Travel-to-school mode choice modelling and patterns of school choice in urban areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 342-357.
    2. Simon Fietze & Elke Holst & Verena Tobsch, 2011. "Germany’s Next Top Manager: Does Personality Explain the Gender Career Gap?," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 22(3), pages 240-273.
    3. Marcus Tamm, 2007. "Does Money Buy Higher Schooling? Evidence from Secondary School Track Choice in Germany," RWI Discussion Papers 0055, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung.
    4. Tamm, Marcus, 2008. "Does money buy higher schooling?: Evidence from secondary school track choice in Germany," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 536-545, October.
    5. repec:zbw:rwidps:0055 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Mahler, Philippe & Winkelmann, Rainer, 2004. "Single Motherhood and (Un)Equal Educational Opportunities: Evidence for Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 1391, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Büchler, Theresa, 2012. "Studierende aus nichtakademischen Elternhäusern im Studium: Expertise im Rahmen des Projektes "Chancengleichheit in der Begabtenförderung" der Hans-Böckler-Stiftung," Arbeitspapiere 249, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf.
    8. Freier, Ronny & Simmler, Martin & Wittrock, Christian, 2021. "Public good provision and local employment – Evidence from grammar school closures in East Germany," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    9. Giesselmann, Marco & Windzio, Michael, 2014. "Paneldaten in der Soziologie: Fixed Effects Paradigma und empirische Praxis in Panelregression und Ereignisanalyse," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 66(1), pages 95-113.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Choice; Stress theory; School tracking; Family income; Social origin;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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