A survey by Munich’s Ifo Institute found that in 2024 only 9.4 % of German residents aged 25 to 64 took part in further education. The average across the European Union was 13.5 %, the economists said on Monday.
Across the EU, participation was lowest in Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece, while Sweden, Denmark and Finland led with the highest rates.
“Lifelong learning is essential for economic adaptability. Cultural traits-especially patience-can shape how much adults invest in education” said Ifo researcher Jasmin Vietz.
The Institute’s new study links the patience measure from the Global Preferences Survey of immigrants coming from various countries to data from Germany’s micro‑census. In this context, patience reflects a willingness to forego immediate benefits for greater future gains.
Vietz explained, “People from countries with a higher patience score are more inclined to make long‑term investments, even if they carry short‑term costs”. She added, “Greater patience significantly raises the likelihood of enrolling in further education, and this effect remains noticeable in the second generation of immigrants, though slightly weaker”.