“…Empirical evidence on the effect of crises on schooling decisions is scant (particularly in the case of Europe) and ambiguous (mostly based on single‐country case studies). The majority of papers find a counter‐cyclical relationship: when the economy enters a period of recession (and the unemployment rate rises), school attendance and enrolment increase (see, among others, Alessandrini et al ., 2015; Long, 2015; Méndez and Sepúlveda, 2012; Heylen and Pozzi, 2007; Dellas and Sakellaris, 2003; Dellas and Koubi, 2003; Mattila, 1982; and references therein). Fewer studies find a pro‐cyclical relationship (King and Sweetman, 2002; Rucci, 2003; Edwards, 1976); and yet another group of papers finds no association at all (Kane, 1994; Polzin, 1984).…”