Education of Refugee Adolescents at the End of Secondary School: The Role of Educational Policies, Individual and Family Resources

Soziale Welt ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 160-200
Author(s):  
Gisela Will ◽  
Christoph Homuth

In the recent wave of refugee immigration to Germany, many children and adolescents were among the migrants. Their integration into the German educational system will be a major challenge for the years and decades to come. The paper’s aim is to examine both general and refugee-specific mechanisms that likely explain ethnic and social inequality in education among refugee adolescents. The study is based on ReGES (Refugees in the German Educational System) data collected in five German federal states. Our results show that refugee adolescents attend lower grade levels and lower school types than the general pupil population in Germany. We further posit that established mechanisms to explain social and ethnic inequality are also applicable to refugee adolescents. Among refugee-specific aspects, we identify factors at the federal state level that influence the school placement of young refugees. Furthermore, at the individual level, post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with differences in educational achievement among refugee students.

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 973-998
Author(s):  
Melanie Borah ◽  
Kathrin Hahn ◽  
Andreas Knabe

Zusammenfassung Diese Studie untersucht Faktoren, die die teilweise starken Unterschiede in der Beschäftigungsquote Schwerbehinderter zwischen den deutschen Bundesländern im Zeitraum von 2003 bis 2015 erklären können. Sie legt dabei besonderen Wert auf die Situation in Sachsen-Anhalt, das in diesem Zeitraum die deutschlandweit niedrigste Beschäftigungsquote aufweist. Die multivariate statistische Analyse liefert Hinweise darauf, dass der Erfüllungsgrad der Beschäftigungspflichtquote nach § 154 SGB IX in stärkerem Ausmaß von soziodemografischen als von ökonomischen Strukturmerkmalen der Länder bestimmt wird. Als Hauptdeterminante tritt in dem hier spezifizierten Modell der Anteil der (registrierten) Schwerbehinderten an der Gesamtbevölkerung hervor. Abstract: Non-Compliance With The Compulsory Employment Quota Of Severely Disabled People – An Empirical Investigation Of Potential Causes At The German Federal State Level This paper examines factors that can explain substantial differences in the employment rate of severely disabled people between the German federal states from 2003 to 2015. It puts special emphasis on the situation in Saxony-Anhalt, which had the lowest employment rate of disabled persons nationwide during this time. The multivariate statistical analysis provides evidence that the degree of compliance with the compulsory employment quote is determined by socio-demographic rather than economic characteristics of the states. Within the specified model, the main determinant of the employment rate appears to be the share of (registered) severely disabled people in the population.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 7583-7620 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bachmair ◽  
I. Kohn ◽  
K. Stahl

Abstract. Current drought monitoring and early warning systems use different indicators for monitoring drought conditions and apply different indicator thresholds and rules for assigning drought intensity classes or issue warnings or alerts. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge on the meaning of different hydro-meteorologic indicators for impact occurrence on the ground. To date, there have been very few attempts to systematically characterize the indicator–impact-relationship owing to the sparse and patchy data for ground truthing hydro-meteorologic variables. The newly established European Drought Impact report Inventory (EDII) offers the possibility to investigate this linkage. The aim of this study was to explore the link between hydro-meteorologic indicators and drought impacts for the case study area Germany and thus to test the potential of qualitative impact data for evaluating the performance of drought indicators. As drought indicators two climatological drought indices as well as streamflow and groundwater level percentiles were selected. Linkage was assessed though data visualization and correlation analysis between monthly timeseries of indicator–impact data at the federal state level, and between spatial patterns for selected drought events. The analysis clearly revealed a significant moderate to strong correlation for some states and drought events allowing for an intercomparison of the performance of different drought indicators. While several commonalities could be identified regarding "best" indicator, indicator metric, and time-scale of climatic anomaly, the analysis also exposed differences among federal states and drought events, suggesting that the linkage is time-variant and region specific to some degree. Concerning thresholds associated with drought impact onset, we found that no single "best" threshold value can be identified but impacts occur within a range of indicator values. While the findings strongly depend on data and may change with a growing number of EDII entries in the future, this study clearly demonstrates the feasibility of ground truthing hydro-meteorologic variables with text-based impact reports and highlights the value of impact reporting as a tool for monitoring drought conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelitsch ◽  
Dalmann ◽  
Wernike ◽  
Reimann ◽  
Beer

Several novel porcine pestiviruses that are linked to disease outbreaks in commercial pig farms were discovered during recent years. Bungowannah pestivirus (BuPV; new species Pestivirus F) causes sudden death in young pigs, but has only ever been isolated in the Australian region Bungowannah. Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV; new species Pestivirus K) on the other hand has been found in multiple countries worldwide and is potentially linked to congenital tremor, a disease that causes considerable production problems in pig farms. To assess the seroprevalences of both viruses in German commercial farms during the years 2009/10 and 2018, two approaches were selected. Antibodies against Pestivirus F were detected by a traditional in-house indirect immunofluorescence test against the culture-grown virus isolate, while for the detection of Pestivirus K-specific antibodies, a newly developed test system utilizing a chimeric construct of bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV1; species Pestivirus A) containing the E1 and E2 encoding sequences of APPV was established. A total of 1115 samples originating from 122 farms located in seven German federal states were investigated. Antibodies against Bungowannah virus could not be detected, confirming the absence of this virus in other regions than the initially affected Australian pig farm complex. In contrast, antibodies against APPV were highly prevalent throughout Germany at both investigated time points. The seroprevalence at the state level fluctuated to some degree, but the overall percentage remained stable, as is to be expected for an endemic pestivirus lacking any form of control measures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 486-496
Author(s):  
Alyson A van Raalte ◽  
Sebastian Klüsener ◽  
Anna Oksuzyan ◽  
Pavel Grigoriev

Abstract Background Subnational regional mortality inequalities are large and appear to be mostly increasing within industrialized countries, although comparative studies across high-income countries are scarce. Germany is an important country to examine because it continues to experience considerable economic disparities between its federal states, in part resulting from its former division. Methods We analyse state-level mortality in Germany utilizing data from a newly constructed regional database based on the methodology of the Human Mortality Database. We compare time trends (1991–2015) in the German state-level standard deviation in life expectancy to that of other large, wealthy countries and examine the association between mortality and economic inequalities at the regional level. Finally, using contour-decomposition methods, we investigate the degree to which age patterns of mortality are converging across German federal states. Results Regional inequalities in life expectancy in Germany are comparatively low internationally, particularly among women, despite high state-level inequalities in economic conditions. These low regional mortality inequalities emerged 5–10 years after reunification. Mortality is converging over most ages between the longest- and shortest-living German state populations and across the former East–West political border, with the exception of an emerging East–West divergence in mortality among working-aged men. Conclusions The German example shows that large regional economic inequalities are not necessarily paralleled with large regional mortality disparities. Future research should investigate the factors that fostered the emergence of this unusual pattern in Germany.


2017 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. MÖHL ◽  
L. GRÄFE ◽  
C. HELMEKE ◽  
D. ZIEHM ◽  
M. MONAZAHIAN ◽  
...  

SUMMARYInfluenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) has to be estimated anew for every season to explore vaccines’ protective effect in the population. We report VE estimates against laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and influenza B among children aged 2–17 years, using test-negative design. Pooled data from two German federal states’ surveillance systems for acute respiratory illness from week 40/2012 to 20/2016 was used, yielding a total of 10 627 specimens. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between laboratory-confirmed influenza and vaccination status were calculated by multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, illness onset and federal state. VE was estimated as 1-Odds Ratio. Overall adjusted VE was 33% (95% CI: 24·3–40·7). A strong variation of VE between the seasons and subtypes was observed: highest season- and subtype-specific VE of 86·2% (95% CI: 41·3–96·7) was found against A(H1N1)pdm09 in 7–17-year-olds in 2015/16. Low estimates of VE were observed against A(H3N2) in any season, e.g. 1·5% (95% CI: −39·3–30·3) in 2014/15. Estimates showed a tendency to higher VE among 7–17-year-old children, but differences were not statistically significant. Although our findings are common in studies estimating influenza VE, we discussed several explanations for observed low VE.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1865-1885
Author(s):  
Andreas Kuckertz ◽  
Elisabeth S.C. Berger ◽  
Alicia Prochotta

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how Germans' misperceptions of the nature of entrepreneurship influence their attitudes towards entrepreneurial failure.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a multivariate regression analysis, the study used data collected from a commercial online market research panel (N = 2,027) reflecting the overall German working population. Attitudinal items on business failure were used to measure the study variables. The study controlled for age, education, employment status, gender, income, whether the respondent knows a failed entrepreneur and the German federal state in which the respondent resides.FindingsThe findings suggest that reservations about failed entrepreneurs become stronger as misperceptions of the nature of entrepreneurship worsen. The results also show that failure reservations vary regionally over the 16 German federal states.Practical implicationsNationwide efforts regarding the stimulation of entrepreneurship and the acceptance of entrepreneurial failure are insufficient for removing failure reservations, as they neglect regional cultural differences. The results suggest that it is not enough just to invest in efforts to create a failure-friendly culture, and that a better general education about the realities of entrepreneurship is a prerequisite.Originality/valueThe study generates insights into how the overall population in an innovation-driven economy perceives entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial failure. Moreover, the work delves into the reasons why parts of German society reject failed entrepreneurs. Hence, this study can aid the drafting of effective policy initiatives at the regional and national levels.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Tim Wolters ◽  
Nils Cremer ◽  
Michael Eisele ◽  
Frank Herrmann ◽  
Peter Kreins ◽  
...  

In Germany, modelled nitrate concentrations in the leachate are of great importance for the development of scenarios for the long-term achievement of the groundwater quality target according to the specific requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive as well as within the context of the recently adopted general administrative regulation for the designation of nitrate-polluted areas in Germany. For the German federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and Rhineland-Palatinate (RLP), an area-covering modelling of mean long-term nitrate concentrations in leachate with high spatial resolution was carried out using the model system RAUMIS-mGROWA-DENUZ. Hotspot regions with nitrate concentrations in the leachate of 50 mg NO3/L and more were identified for intensively farmed areas in the Münsterland, Lower Rhine, and Vorderpfalz. The validity of modelled values was checked using measured values from 1119 preselected monitoring stations from shallow springs and aquifers filtered near to the surface with oxidizing properties. For the land use categories of urban areas, arable land, grassland, and forest, an at least good agreement of modelled nitrate concentrations in the leachate and measured nitrate concentrations in groundwater was obtained at numerous sites. An equally good agreement was obtained for 1461 measuring stations from the area of responsibility of the Erftverband, which is a major water supplier in the Lower Rhine region. Here, discrepancies have been analyzed in detail due to profound regional knowledge on observation sites. It turned out that in most cases, accuracy limitations of input data (e.g., N balance surpluses of agriculture at the municipal level, 1:50,000 soil map) have been the reason for larger deviations between observed and modelled values. In a broader sense, the case study has shown on the one hand that the model system RAUMIS-mGROWA-DENUZ is able to reliably represent interrelationships and influencing factors that determine simulated nitrate concentrations in the leachate. On the other hand, it has been proven that observed nitrate concentrations in groundwater may provide a solid data source for checking the plausibility of modelled nitrate concentrations in leachate in cases where certain preselection criteria are applied.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-160
Author(s):  
Christian Hey

The role of the federal states (Länder) in Germany’s sustainability transformation has received comparatively little attention in the political science literature. This article examines the contributions, capacities and competencies of the Länder in relation to Germany’s sustainability transformation with a focus on the role of Hesse. Hesse is a particularly interesting federal state to consider as it introduced a differentiated and demanding sustainable development policy already in 2008.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Winterstein ◽  
André Habisch

PurposeThis paper measures German customers' label-depending preference and willingness to pay for organic and local food.Design/methodology/approachThe sample covers 325 survey respondents from 12 out of the 16 German federal states. Data was collected through convenience sampling in December 2019. A choice-based conjoint analysis was operated.FindingsCustomers value local food from their federal state most, thereby accepting a price premium of no less than 200%. The label moderates the influence of organic production conditions on price acceptance significantly.Research limitations/implicationsBased on self-reported data from a convenience sample, the demographic distribution of the sample differs from that of the German population. Moreover, the willingness to pay was found to be product-specific, limiting general applicability.Practical implicationsMarketers should focus on local and local organic food in the assortment. Marketing strategies should include information campaigns. Producers may sell their products regionally or cooperate with local retailers. Introducing a separate official “local organic” label is suggested.Originality/valueThe study provides detailed evidence on the preference of German costumers and suggests a significantly higher willingness to pay for organic and local food than previous literatures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089020702110388
Author(s):  
Hongfei Du ◽  
Friedrich M. Götz ◽  
Anli Chen ◽  
Peter J. Rentfrow

Person-culture fit perspectives posit that individuals have higher self-esteem when their values match the values of the sociocultural environment in which they live. The current study tested this hypothesis by examining the associations between value congruence and self-esteem in a large-scale sample in the United States ( N = 48,563). Multilevel response surface analyses revealed no evidence of value congruence effects on self-esteem, such that the agreement between individual- and state-level values did not positively predict self-esteem for any of the 10 basic values. Instead, we found positive (stimulation, security) and negative (conformity) linear associations between individual-level values and self-esteem. We also found positive curvilinear relationships between individual-level achievement and tradition values and self-esteem, and negative curvilinear relationships between individual-level self-direction, hedonism, power, benevolence, and universalism values and self-esteem. In addition, state-level values moderated the relationship between values and self-esteem for tradition, universalism, and conformity values. In federal states with stronger endorsement of tradition values, individuals’ tradition values were more positively associated with self-esteem. In contrast, in states with stronger endorsement of universalism values, individuals’ universalism values were more negatively associated with self-esteem. Lastly, individuals’ conformity values were negatively associated with self-esteem, particularly in states with weaker endorsement of conformity values.


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