Month / June 2021
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How trust influences vaccination readiness
When social trust is high, people are more inclined to collaborate—even in crisis situations. This mechanism has been at work during the pandemic, according to results of a special survey of more than 12,000 participants in the long-term study “Living in Germany”.
According to this special survey on life in Germany during COVID-19, trust has been high during the pandemic. In fact, social trust increased between February 2020 and June 2021. The results show how important trust has been in overcoming the pandemic: People with higher trust in others are more likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19. They are also more likely to follow COVID-19 rules such as “keep a safe distance,” “wash your hands,” and “wear a mask.”
Further information
Photo by Marcin Jozwiak on Unsplash…
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Despite difficult initial conditions, the integration and participation of refugees in Germany is making progress
Refugees in Germany come from very different countries of origin and have fled to Germany for a wide variety of reasons. However, they have one thing in common: In most cases, they cannot prepare for long to leave their home country. Often, the refugees do not actually want to leave their home country or do not know in which country they will arrive after fleeing. As a result, the refugees often lack German language skills when they arrive in Germany, have few networks or have had to leave parts of their family behind in their home country. Among other things, all of this influences the chances of integration, for example into the labor market.
Despite all these conditions, the integration and participation of refugees often develops positively in the years following their arrival in Germany. With increasing length of stay, German language skills and participation in the labor market also increase. Many decide to make a new start in their careers and begin new training programs or change professions.
n the 17th Media Forum Migration of SWR aktuell, Esther Saoub, Richard Arnold, Mirzeta Haug, Khalil Khalil and Dr. Yuliya Kosyakova from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) discuss developments in the integration and participation of refugees. In addition to the personal experiences of the participants in the discussion, the data from the study “Living in Germany” will also play an important role.
Further information
SWR: Wohnung, Arbeit, Bildung und …? Partizipation von Geflüchteten
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Parental leave increases children’s well-being over the long term
In early May 1986, the East German government introduced a policy reform that some people are still benefiting from today. Both mothers and fathers were allowed to take twelve months of paid parental leave from the date of their child’s birth. Previously, most parents had to return to work when their children were five months old, which meant that the children were placed in daycare.
According to a study by researchers at the ifo institute based on data from the study “Living in Germany”, the effects of the reform are evident in the children, who are now in their early to mid-thirties. the effects of the reform are evident in the children, who are now in their early to mid-thirties.
Children who spent their first year of life exclusively in the care of their own parents are eight percentage points more satisfied today than those who were sent to daycare at the age of five months.
Further information
ifo Dresden: Longer paid parental leave makes children happier later on
Photo by Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash…
