Alumni

Dr. Cheng Boon Ong

Thesis:
Ethnic segregation in housing, schools and neigbourhoods in the Netherlands

Year: 2014

Promotor(s):
Henriette Maassen van den Brink & Kristof de Witte

Abstract:
In Western Europe, despite vacillating empirical results on “peer effects” or the independent effect of being in a segregated neighbourhood or school, segregation in neighbourhoods and schools remain indicators of social exclusion and cohesion in a society. The thesis covers three main themes of segregation: individual preferences for peer composition, nonlinear dynamics in peer composition, and peer effects. Based on the neoclassical economics approach, it focuses on the role of preferences in driving ethnic segregation processes. Among others, the thesis seeks to determine (i) if native Dutch and non-western minority homeowners have different preferences for neighbourhood ethnic composition, (ii) if students prefer to re-segregate into schools following a forced school closure; and (iii) if ethnic peer composition at the primary school-level has a long-term effect on one’s likelihood to drop out of high school. In addition, the thesis explores if and how public policy can mediate these preferences in order to influence segregation outcomes in schools and neighbourhoods.

Selected publications by Cheng Boon Ong


Articles (journal, professional, popular)
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2017, `Tipping points in Dutch big city neighbourhoods, Urban Studies, 54, More information
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2016, `Move beyond economics, let's focus on the social, The Jakarta Post, 10 February 2016, More information


Book chapters
Ong, Cheng Boon & Loveleen De, 2016, India: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, in: Isabel Ortiz, Valérie Schmitt, Loveleen De (eds), Social Protection Floors. Volume 2: Innovations to extend coverage, International Labour Organization, Geneva, More information


Books (monograph or edited volume)
Peyron Bista, Céline & Cheng Boon Ong, 2017, Case studies and exercises on unemployment protection, International Labour Organization, Bangkok, 101, More information
Ong, Cheng Boon & Céline Peyron Bista, 2015, The state of social protection in ASEAN at the dawn of integration, International Labour Organization, Bangkok, 150, More information


UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2014, Tipping points? Ethnic composition change in Dutch big city neighbourhoods, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2014-011
Ong, Cheng Boon & Kristof de Witte, 2014, School choice, segregation, and forced school closure, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2014-008
Ong, Cheng Boon & Kristof de Witte, 2013, The influence of ethnic segregation and school mobility in primary education on high school dropout . Evidence from regression discontinuity at a contextual tipping point, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2013-064
Ong, Cheng Boon & Kristof de Witte, 2013, Ethnic segregation and heterogeneous preferences of homeowners for housing and neighbourhood characteristics. Evidence from the Netherlands, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2013-061


Theses
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2014, Ethnic segregation in housing, schools and neigbourhoods in the Netherlands, PhD dissertation Maastricht University / UNU-MERIT, More information
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2007, Reconciling work & family life: a comparative study of mothers with young children in Denmark, France, Ireland and Italy, Master thesis, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven | IMPALLA, 46, More information


Briefs
Ong, Cheng Boon & Nadine Walicki, 2016, Leaving no one behind: internal displacement and the New Urban Agenda, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, Geneva, More information


Other (editorship, media appearance, keynote, etc.)
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2017, UNU-MERIT Blog, More information
Ong, Cheng Boon, Ana Mosneaga & Michaella Vanore, 2016, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) Expert Opinion, More information
Ong, Cheng Boon, 2014, 1Limburg, More information

UNU-MERIT