Research
From ‘ghettos’ to graduation? Exploring the impact of Danish ‘ghetto’ areas on educational attainment
Research from the GHET-IN project shows that growing up in Denmark’s politically designated ‘ghetto’ areas may negatively affect educational attainment. However, while young people from these areas generally achieve lower levels of education by adulthood, the research indicates that this association is driven by socioeconomic deprivation, with no evidence for any unique ‘ghetto’ effect beyond local socioeconomic factors.
Tracking educational outcomes over time
The study tracked 177,000 individuals, born between 1988 and 1990, to measure ‘ghetto’ exposure by age 15-17 and their educational attainment by age 28-30. Statistical methods were used to compare the outcomes of those who lived in a ‘ghetto’ area during adolescence with those who did not, while controlling for family background and neighborhood conditions.
The data shows that young people from ‘ghetto’ areas have lower educational outcomes. However, when local socioeconomic deprivation is taken into account, this effect disappears entirely.
The impact of local socioeconomic deprivation
The findings challenge the assumption that ‘ghetto’ areas are inherently detrimental due to their unique ethnic or cultural characteristics. Instead, the study indicates that the key factors limiting educational success are local challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and lower education levels in the neighborhood, rather than any unique effect of the specific ghetto areas.
Policy implications
These findings suggest that policies focusing on ethnic segregation and ghetto areas may overlook the need to address poverty and economic disadvantage. The study highlights that broader support for all socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods, not just those labeled as ‘ghettos,’ is crucial for ensuring equal educational opportunities for young people.
By rethinking the focus of urban policy, the findings from the GHET IN project points towards a more inclusive approach that tackles the root causes of inequality poverty and unemployment—rather than stigmatizing a few specific areas based on ethnic or cultural factors.