School choice and the city: Geographies of allocation and segregation

an article by Deborah Wilson (University of Bristol, UK) and Gary Bridge (Cardiff University, UK) published in Urban Studies Volume 56 Issue 15 (November 2019)

Abstract

Urban research has increasingly acknowledged the significance of the social and spatial composition of schools in the broader socio-spatial dynamics of cities overall. With increasingly marketised education systems, parental choice of school is a key mechanism affecting wider urban processes such as gentrification.

Most research into school choice in cities concentrates on the dynamics of choice (how and what parents say they choose).

Fewer studies deal with the relationship between choice and the subsequent allocation of pupils to schools.

This paper reports the findings of an international systematic review of the connections between parental choice and pupil allocation in school choice systems across the globe.

We find that school choice is associated with higher levels of segregation of pupils from different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds between schools. This finding is consistent across all types of choice mechanism, in different countries and cities, and across choice systems that have been in place for different lengths of time.

The reasons behind the observed relationship are, however, highly localised and contextual, including particularities of the choice mechanism, social composition of neighbourhoods and mix of school types in a city.

Increases in between-school segregation may lead to schools being more homogeneous in their social composition, with broader implications for social cohesion and educational inequalities in cities.

Relating the findings to the broader urban school literatures, we suggest that scales and geographies of allocation are critical in understanding the dilemmas and dynamics of choice, the resultant inequalities, and any proposed interventions or solutions to reduce these inequalities.

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Measuring unfair inequality

a column by Paul Hufe, Ravi Kanbur and Andreas Peichl for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal

Rising income and wealth inequality have come into sharp focus since the Global Crisis.

Using US and European data, this column explores the factors contributing to unfair inequality, focusing on equality of opportunity and freedom from poverty.

The results show that unfair inequality is greater in the US than anywhere in Europe, and that it has been increasing over time. The findings also show that relying solely on measures of equality of opportunity will severely underestimate unfair inequality.

Continue reading

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Work, employment and engagement conditions in a female-dominated public service occupation after restructuring/outsourcing

an article by Gill Kirton (Queen Mary University of London, UK) and Cécile Guillaume (University of Roehampton, London, UK) published in Industrial Relations Journal Volume 48 Issue 5-6 (November 2017)

Abstract

Most research on the phenomenon of public service restructuring/outsourcing focuses on lower skilled work in peripheral activities and typically provides an overview of effects on work, employment and employment relations.

Through an in-depth case study of probation, the intention of this article is to explore professional worker experiences of the restructuring/outsourcing of a core public service activity where the workforce is female dominated.

The article highlights three dimensions of job quality that all suffered deterioration – work, employment and engagement.

The case of probation adds to evidence demonstrating that employees experience adverse effects even though transfer regulations and union agreements supposedly protect workers. Probation also stands as an exemplar of impoverishment processes in a female-dominated occupation which reinforces the view that public services can no longer be relied upon to provide high-quality jobs for highly qualified women.

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World of Work Report 2012

The World of Work Report 2012 provides an analysis of recent labour market and social trends, assesses risks of social unrest and presents employment projections for the next five years.

The report emphasises that while employment has begun to recover slowly, job quality is deteriorating and there is a growing sense of unfairness. Moreover, given the pressure on governments to rein in expenditure, policy efforts have focused on structural reforms to boost employment creation.

However, if policy instruments are not carefully designed, they could exacerbate the employment situation and aggravate further equity concerns, with potentially long-lasting adverse consequences for both the economy and society.

The report addresses the following questions:

• To what extent has the slow recovery aggravated social conditions, including falling incomes, deepening poverty and worsening inequality?
• Have countries gone too far, too fast with fiscal consolidation?
• How should they support recovery while meeting fiscal goals in the medium term?
• What can be expected from recent labour market reforms?
• How can investment be boosted so as to ensure a long-lasting recovery in both the economy and jobs?
• What have been the barriers to implementing a more job-centred and equity-enhancing policy approach?
• Why has the business-as-usual scenario maintained its centrality despite the increasing risk of social unrest?

This report calls for a carefully designed policy approach that takes into consideration the urgent need to create quality jobs while at the same time laying the ground for a more productive, fairer economy and labour market.

Full report (PDF 128pp)

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