Do Tuition Fees Affect the Mobility of University Applicants? Evidence from a Natural Experiment

Several German states recently introduced tuition fees for university education. We investigate whether these tuition fees influence the mobility of university applicants. Based on administrative data of applicants for medical schools in Germany, we estimate the effect of tuition fees on the probability of applying for a university in the home state. We find a small but significant reaction: The probability of applying for a university in the home state falls by 2 percentage points (baseline: 69%) for high-school graduates who come from a state with tuition fees. Moreover, we find that students with lower high-school grades react more strongly to tuition fees. This might have important effects on the composition of students across states.mobility of high-school graduates, tuition fees, natural experiment

Studiengebühren erhöhen die Mobilität von Studienbewerbern kaum

Seit das Bundesverfassungsgericht 2005 das Verbot von Studiengebühren aufgehoben hat, haben sieben Bundesländer Studiengebühren von bis zu 500 Euro pro Semester eingeführt. Eine Studie des DIW Berlin zeigt, dass dies zu Ausweichreaktionen der Studienbewerber geführt hat, die zahlenmäßig nur gering ausfallen: Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, ein Studium im Heimatbundesland beginnen zu wollen, sinkt für Studienanfänger aus Gebührenländern um rund zwei Prozentpunkte. Dabei weichen vor allem Abiturienten mit schlechten Zeugnissen den Gebührenländern aus. Studienanfänger mit sehr guten Abiturnoten lassen sich dagegen von den Gebühren kaum abschrecken.Mobility of high-school graduates, Tuition fees, Natural experiment

”Mukavaa kun on päässyt tähän maailmaan” – Ikäihmisten kokemuksia Active Art Pilotti II -toiminnasta ohjaajien kuvaamana

Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu yhdessä suomalaisten ja japanilaisten yhteistyökumppaniensa kanssa ovat kehittäneet Active Art –menetelmää jo vuodesta 2006 alkaen. Se on tavoitteellista ja kuntouttavaa ryhmässä tapahtuvaa taidetoimintaa, minkä perustana on japanilainen Clinical Art -systeemi (CA). Opinnäytetyömme tarkoituksena oli koota yhteen Active Artin teoriapohjaa sekä saada lisää tietoa menetelmän vaikutuksista. Päätavoitteenamme oli tuottaa kuvailevaa tietoa Active Art Pilotti II –taideryhmiin osallistuneiden ikääntyneiden ryhmäläisten kokemuksista ohjaajien kuvausten pohjalta. Tarkoituksena oli tuoda ryhmäläisten oma ääni kuuluviin. Osallistuimme ensin keväällä 2008 Active Art- koulutusjaksolle, jonka jälkeen toimimme taideryhmien vetäjinä työntekijöiden kanssa. Pilotti II lopuksi saimme tarkasteltavaksemme ryhmien ohjaajien loppuraportit (7 kpl), jotka toimivat aineistonamme tässä tutkielmassa. Analysoimme aineistomme sisällön analyysiä käyttäen eli laadullisen tutkimusmenetelmän keinoin. Opinnäytetyömme tulokset osoittivat, että Active Art –ryhmät tuottivat sekä yksilöllisiä että yhteisiä voimavaroja. Active Art toi virikkeellisyyttä normaaliin arkeen sekä sai ryhmäläiset aktivoitumaan ja yksinäisyys vähentyi. Taideryhmät tuottivat ikääntyneille iloa ja yhdessä tekemisen riemua. Toiminnan jatkuessa ryhmäytymistä tapahtui, mitä kautta yksilöiden rohkeus tehdä erilaista kuin totuttu lisääntyi. Ryhmäläiset eivät enää väheksyneet omia töitään kuten alussa ja he kokivat yhteenkuuluvuutta ja kannustivat muita. Ryhmäläiset kokivat niin negatiivisia kuin positiivisiakin tunteita taiteen tekemisen yhteydessä. Joissakin ryhmäläisissä abstraktit taiteenteon menetelmät aiheuttivat välillä epävarmuutta ja turhautumista. Turvallisen ympäristön ja kannustavan ilmapiirin turvin ryhmäläiset kui-tenkin uskaltautuivat kokeilemaan ja saivat uusia elämyksiä. Parhaimmillaan Active Art –ryhmä oli foorumi, jossa ikäihmiset pystyivät sekä herättelemään että purkamaan erilaisia tunteita ja kokemuksia. Kipeitä muistoja uskallettiin käsitellä ja esimerkiksi omasta yksinäisyydestä puhua.”How nice it is to get into this world” – How the elderly experienced Active Art Pilot II –activity described by the instructors Laurea Polytechnic in collaboration with Finnish and Japanese partners has developed the Active Art since 2006. It is a goal-oriented and rehabilitative activity that happens in art groups. The method is based on the Japanese Clinical Art system (CA). The meaning of our thesis was to bring together the theory of Active Art and to obtain more information about the effects of the method. Our main goal was to provide descriptive information about how the elderly art group members experienced working with art in the Active Art Pilot II. The information needed we got from the final reports written by the instructors of the art groups. The purpose was to bring the voice of the elderly heard. First we participated in the Active Art training period in spring 2008, after which we instructed arts groups together with the workers. The material of the thesis was received from the final reports of the art groups (n=7). We analyzed the material using content analysis which is a qualitative research method. Our study results showed that the Active Art groups generated individual and collective re-sources. Active Art brought stimulus activity to normal daily life, activated the group mem-bers to mobilize and decreased their loneliness. Art groups gave joy for the elderly and they enjoyed working together as a group. As the activity continued they formed a tight group through which the individuals had the courage to do different they used to. Group members were no longer underestimating their own works like they did at the beginning and they expe-rienced companionship and encouraged others. Group members felt both negative and positive emotions during the art sessions. Some felt that the abstract methods of making art created uncertainty and frustration. A safe environment and encouraging atmosphere, however, dared to enable group members to try and acquire new experiences. At best, the Active Art group was a forum where elderly people were able to awaken and dissolve different kinds of feelings and emotions. They had the courage to deal with painful memories and to talk about for example loneliness

Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2) : a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background: Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence. Methods: ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362. Findings: Between Jan 15, 2008, and Dec 31, 2020, 3625 patients in 130 centres were randomly allocated, 1811 to CAS and 1814 to CEA, with good compliance, good medical therapy and a mean 5 years of follow-up. Overall, 1% had disabling stroke or death procedurally (15 allocated to CAS and 18 to CEA) and 2% had non-disabling procedural stroke (48 allocated to CAS and 29 to CEA). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year non-procedural stroke were 2·5% in each group for fatal or disabling stroke, and 5·3% with CAS versus 4·5% with CEA for any stroke (rate ratio [RR] 1·16, 95% CI 0·86-1·57; p=0·33). Combining RRs for any non-procedural stroke in all CAS versus CEA trials, the RR was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (overall RR 1·11, 95% CI 0·91-1·32; p=0·21). Interpretation: Serious complications are similarly uncommon after competent CAS and CEA, and the long-term effects of these two carotid artery procedures on fatal or disabling stroke are comparable