The impact of university openings on local youth

This study investigates how the establishment of a new university affects the educational pathways for younger cohorts. By analyzing cohorts at various stages of their education, we show a notable shift towards higher education and a decline in completion rates for vocational training programs across all cohorts. This effect is observed even among adolescents in upper secondary school, despite the apparent pre-determination of their educational trajectory. However, the benefits are not distributed equally, with youth from academic households experiencing the most significant gains, which raises concerns about increasing educational inequalities due to new university establishments. Our results highlight the complex interplay between accessibility, social networks, and educational preferences, calling for policy interventions that balance the expansion of higher education access with efforts to mitigate increased stratification.