Doctoral defence: David Knapp "The relationship between residential segregation, school segregation and family context"

On 22 August at 10:45, David Knapp will defend his doctoral thesis "The relationship between residential segregation, school segregation and family context" for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in human geography and regional planning. 

Supervisors: 
Prof. Tiit Tammaru (University of Tartu)
Dr Anneli Kährik (University of Tartu)
Dr Kadri Leetmaa (University of Tartu)

Opponent: 
Prof. Hans Thor Andersen (Aalborg University)

Summary
Persistent segregation and its negative impacts are a reality in cities worldwide. Current research suggests that segregation in one area of life, such as neighbourhoods, can result in segregation in other areas, such as schools and workplaces. Segregation can be passed on from one generation to the next as childhood circumstances affect outcomes later in life. The replication of segregation in different life areas and across generations can be thought of as a “vicious circle of segregation”. However, the process could also mean that desegregation in one life area could trigger desegregation in others – a “virtuous circle of desegregation”. This thesis investigates the relationship between residential segregation, school segregation and family context and how they relate to a “virtuous circle of desegregation”. I focus on two aspects: the connection between school composition and the composition of the neighbourhood lived in as an adult and the connection between school composition and achieving a university degree among the Russian-speaking minority in Tallinn. For both studies, school composition appeared to have a significant link. Minority members who attended majority schools were more likely to move into majority neighbourhoods in adulthood and obtain a degree. Family socioeconomic status, childhood neighbourhood context and the level of integration into majority society also seem to be connected. This suggests that desegregating schools could help desegregate neighbourhoods and other life areas and increase the number of minority population members with university degrees. More minority population members with degrees will likely improve their job opportunities, reduce income inequality and increase social mobility.