Topics in the economics of education and immigration

Abstract

This doctoral thesis is divided into three distinct chapters empirically examining some of the most relevant aspects concerning immigrant children’s integration in the Italian school system. The administrative data in this dissertation are drawn from the Italian National Institute for the Evaluation of the Education System (INVALSI) on the entire population of students. First chapter investigates the impact of early childcare attendance on immigrant students’ educational performance. Second chapter explores whether the ability of native and immigrant peers affects immigrant students’ educational achievement in the classroom. The final chapter presents and discusses comparative evidence on the performance of first and second-generation immigrant students with respect to that of native students, providing up to date evidence on the main factors driving immigrant students' disadvantage. Overall, this dissertation sheds light on the educational policies that might positively affect immigrant students’ educational outcomes and integration.