Single Motherhood and (Un)Equal Educational Opportunities: Evidence for Germany

Philippe Mahler () and Rainer Winkelmann
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Philippe Mahler: University of Zurich

No 1391, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We examine the effect of single motherhood on children's secondary school track choice using a sample of 14 years old children drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel. In line with previous studies for the U.S., the U.K. and Sweden, we find a negative correlation between disrupted family structure and children's educational outcome. Looking for alternative explanations for this correlation, we use ordered probit regression models to control for factors related to single motherhood such as lower educational background, lower household income and higher labor supply of the mother. Our evidence suggests that single parenthood reduces school attainment mainly because it is associated with lower resources (income and time) available for the child.

Keywords: school choice; educational attainment; ordered response model; German Socio-Economic Panel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 J12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2004-11
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

Published - published in: Schriften des Vereins für Socialpolitik, 2006, 313, 39-54.

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Working Paper: Single Motherhood and (Un)Equal EducationalOpportunities: Evidence for Germany (2005)
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