IZA Journal of Migration
Volume 4, Issue 1, 2015

Better migrants, better PISA results: Findings from a natural experiment (Article) (Open Access)

Cattaneo M.A.* , Wolter S.C.
  • a Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education, Entfelderstrasse 61, 5000, Aarau, Switzerland
  • b Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education, Entfelderstrasse 61, 5000, Aarau, Switzerland

Abstract

Switzerland changed its migration policy in the 1990s from a “non-qualified only” policy to one of almost free movement of labor. To analyze the impact of this policy change on the schooling outcomes of children of first-generation migrants, the paper compares the PISA results of first-generation pupils in 2000 with the scores of children tested in 2009, whose parents immigrated after the policy changed. We find that around 75% of the 40-point increase in the PISA score of first-generation immigrant students was due to changes in the individual background characteristics of their parents and to improved school composition. © 2015, Cattaneo and Wolter.

Author Keywords

Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition Migration Natural experiment PISA

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84983422300&doi=10.1186%2fs40176-015-0042-y&partnerID=40&md5=6a7110f70ff74c41419f415d32449474
DOI: 10.1186/s40176-015-0042-y
ISSN: 21939039
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English