Table 1 Overview of previous studies of the consequences of tuition fees in Germany with a focus on studies of study intention and actual enrollment
Author | Main Method | Examined period | Data source | Dependent variables | Results | Aggregation level | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heine et al. (2008) | Logistic regression | 2006/2007, 2002, 2004, 2006 | HIS school leavers survey | “Study plans”; HEI entrance | − 4% (study plans) HEI entrance (not sig.) | Individual level | N = 5240–21,790 |
Heine (2012) | Logistic regression | 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 | HIS school leavers survey | Tendency to study | Global negative effect (sig.) | Individual level | n.a |
Helbig et al. (2012) | Probit model (DiD) | 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 | HIS school leavers survey | Tendency to study | + 0,03 to − 0.05 (not sig.) | Individual level | N = 2709–28,756 |
Baier and Helbig (2014) | DiD, ATT with propensity score matching | 2006, 2008 | HIS school leavers survey | Enrollment intention | 3 points increase (not sig.) | Individual level | N = 3404–3594 |
Dietrich and Gerner (2012) | Probit model (DiD) | 2000–2006 | ALWA Survey | Enrollment probability | − 0.157 (sig.) | Individual level | N = 630 |
Bahrs and Siedler (2018) | Linear probability model (DiD) | 2004–2012 | SOEP Youth Questionnaire | Intention to acquire HE degree | − 8 percentage points (sig.) | Individual level | N = 1430 |
Hübner (2012) | OLS (DiD) | 2002–2008 | Federal Statistical Office of Germany | Enrollment probability | − 4.7 percentage points (sig.) | State level | N = 112 = 7*16 |
Bruckmeier and Wigger (2014) | OLS (DiD) | 2007–2010 | Federal Statistical Office of Germany | Enrollment rates | Between -2,1 percentage points and + 1,04 percentage points (sig./non-sig.; depending on state) | State level | N = 64 = 4*16 |
Bietenbeck et al. (2022) | DiD, Fixed Effects | 2001–2010 | German Student Register | Enrollment | − 3.9 percentage points (sig.) | State level | N = 160 = 10*16 |
Bruckmeier et al. (2013) | OLS, Fixed effects | 2003–2010 | Federal Statistical Office of Germany | Number of freshmen | − 0.296 to − 0.270 (sig.; FE) | HEI level | N = 344 = 43*8 |
Mitze et al. (2015) | Fixed Effects (DiD) | 2002–2008 (2001–2010) | Federal Statistical Office of Germany | Total enrollment rate /Gross-in-migration | − 1.6 percentage points for male students on state level (sig./not sig. for female students); -4.6 percentage points on male gross-in-migration(sig.) | HEI level (/State level) | N = 1690 (213) |