Did the Bologna Process challenge the German apprenticeship system? : evidence from a natural experiment
Stephan L. Thomsen, Johannes Trunzer
Starting in 1999, the Bologna Process reformed the German five-year study system for a first degree into the three-year bachelor's (BA) system to harmonize study lengths in Europe and improve competitiveness. This reform unintentionally challenged the German apprenticeship system that offers three-year professional training for the majority of school leavers. Approximately 29% of new apprentices are university-eligible graduates from academic-track schools. We evaluate the effects of the Bologna reform on new highly educated apprentices using a generalized difference-in-differences design based on detailed administrative student and labor market data. Our estimates show that the average regional expansion in first-year BA students decreased the number of new highly educated apprentices by 3%-5%; average treatment effects on those indecisive at school graduation range between -18% and -29%. We reveal substantial gender and occupational heterogeneity: males in STEM apprenticeships experienced the strongest negative effects. The reform aggravated the skills shortage in the economy.
Year of publication: |
October 2020
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Authors: | Thomsen, Stephan L. ; Trunzer, Johannes |
Publisher: |
Bonn, Germany : IZA - Institute of Labor Economics |
Subject: | Bologna Process | post-secondary education decisions | apprenticeships | higher education | Deutschland | Germany | Frankreich | France | Hochschulreform | Higher education reform | Betriebliche Ausbildung | Apprenticeship training | Studium | University education | Italien | Italy | Großbritannien | United Kingdom |
Saved in:
freely available
Extent: | 1 Online-Ressource (circa 67 Seiten) Illustrationen |
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Series: | Discussion paper series / IZA. - Bonn : IZA, ZDB-ID 2120053-1. - Vol. no. 13806 |
Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Type of publication (narrower categories): | Graue Literatur ; Non-commercial literature ; Arbeitspapier ; Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Other identifiers: | hdl:10419/227333 [Handle] |
Classification: | I23 - Higher Education Research Institutions ; I28 - Government Policy ; J24 - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity |
Source: | ECONIS - Online Catalogue of the ZBW |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10012305204