Easing the Commute: The Impact of Affordable Public Transport on Apprentice Mobility

This paper examines how reduced commuting frictions and improved public transportation affordability, brought about by the so-called Deutschlandticket, affect the commuting choices of newly commencing apprentices in Germany. Introduced in May 2023, the Deutschlandticket offers nationwide access to local and regional public trans- port at a flat monthly rate, replacing a previously fragmented fare system and substantially reducing commuting costs, particularly for commutes across transport association boundaries. Using administrative register data on apprenticeship contracts and detailed pre-Deutschlandticket fare information, we assess changes in commuting patterns among new apprentices between 2022 and 2023. Our difference-in-differences analyses show that the Deutschlandticket led to a significant increase of around 21% in commutes on inter-transport-association routes, especially among older apprentices, those with lower school-leaving certificates, and those in certain training occupations. In contrast, we find no significant effect of region-specific Deutschlandticket-related cost savings on commuting distances within single transport associations. Our findings suggest that by lowering fares as well as reducing administrative and coordination barriers, the Deutschlandticket expanded access to apprenticeship opportunities and may have helped alleviate regional mismatches, without increasing commuting distances or requiring relocation.