Economic and Social Perspectives of Immigrant Children in Germany

35 Pages Posted: 19 Jun 2001

See all articles by Joachim R. Frick

Joachim R. Frick

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) (Deceased) ; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) (Deceased)

Gert G. Wagner

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin); Berlin University of Technology; German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP)

Date Written: June 2001

Abstract

Overall, children in Germany live in households with below average incomes; therefore social policies that address the vulnerable position of Germany's children are necessary. These policies should cover targeted financial transfers as well as improvements in day care provision for children. With respect to selected non-monetary as well as monetary indicators our empirical analyses show significant differences in current living conditions between native born German children and those born to immigrants of German descent and foreign origin persons. Education is a key indicator for future economic and social perspectives. In principle, there is no formal "discrimination" of immigrant children by the German school system. However, low educational attainment levels are still being transferred from one immigrant generation to the next. The net result is that children of immigrants are not able to close the educational gap between themselves and their native German counterparts. The probable long-term consequence will be a large number of poorly qualified persons in the work force, who are much more likely to face severe labor market problems and as such will be a problem for the German economy as a whole for many years to come.

Keywords: Immigration, Children, Integration, Education

JEL Classification: J13, I30, I21

Suggested Citation

Frick, Joachim R. and Wagner, Gert G., Economic and Social Perspectives of Immigrant Children in Germany (June 2001). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=270794 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.270794

Joachim R. Frick

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) (Deceased) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) (Deceased)

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

Gert G. Wagner (Contact Author)

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany
+49 30 8 978 9290 (Phone)
+49 30 8 978 9200 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.diw.de/programme/jsp/MA.jsp?language=en&uid=gwagner

Berlin University of Technology ( email )

Straße des 17
Berlin, 10623
Germany
+30 8 978 9283 (Phone)

German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) ( email )

DIW Berlin
10108 Berlin, Berlin
Germany
+49 30 8978 9290 (Phone)
+49 30 8978 9109 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.diw/en/soep

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