New Evidence on the Effects of the Shortened School Duration in the German States: An Evaluation of Post-Secondary Education Decisions

39 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2015 Last revised: 16 Apr 2023

See all articles by Tobias Meyer

Tobias Meyer

Leibniz Universität Hannover

Stephan L. Thomsen

Leibniz Universität Hannover - Institute of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research - Labour Markets, Human Resources and Social Policy Department

Heidrun Schneider

Deutsches Zentrum fuer Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsforschung (DZHW)

Abstract

Most German states have reformed university preparatory schooling during the last decade by reducing its duration from 13 to 12 years without changing the graduation requirements. In this paper, we use nationwide data on high school graduates and apply a difference-in-differences approach to evaluate the reform effects on post-secondary education decisions. The results show that enrollment in university education in the first year after high school graduation is reduced in all analyzed states, while participation in voluntary service or staying abroad is increased. In some subgroups, depending on state, gender and family background, university enrollment is decreased additionally beyond the first year.

Keywords: Germany, learning intensity, school duration, post-secondary education decisions

JEL Classification: I21, J18, C21

Suggested Citation

Meyer, Tobias and Thomsen, Stephan Lothar and Schneider, Heidrun, New Evidence on the Effects of the Shortened School Duration in the German States: An Evaluation of Post-Secondary Education Decisions. IZA Discussion Paper No. 9507, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2696305 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2696305

Tobias Meyer (Contact Author)

Leibniz Universität Hannover

Welfengarten 1
D-30167 Hannover, 30167
Germany

Stephan Lothar Thomsen

Leibniz Universität Hannover - Institute of Economics ( email )

United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research - Labour Markets, Human Resources and Social Policy Department ( email )

P.O.Box 10 34 43
D-68034
Germany

Heidrun Schneider

Deutsches Zentrum fuer Hochschul- und Wissenschaftsforschung (DZHW) ( email )

Goseriede 9
Hannover, 30159
Germany

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