Straight-line Assimilation in Leaving Home? A Comparison of Turks, Somalis and Danes

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to test the evidence for spatial assimilation and straightline assimilation in the transition of leaving home in Denmark. Based on data from the extensive Danish registers, the paper analyses the home-leaving patterns of Danes, Turkish immigrants, Turkish descendants and Somali immigrants. Two main findings emerged. First, while spatial segregation patterns of home-leavers were clear, inter-generational mobility did take place, supporting the notion of straight-line assimilation. Second, inter-generational effects were identified. While there was no indication that parental socio-economic situation affected the spatial segregation of home-leavers, substantial effects were found for the share of ethnic minorities in the parental neighbourhood: the higher the share of ethnic minorities, the higher the hazard for moving to an ethnic neighbourhood and the lower the hazard for moving to a nonethnic neighbourhood. Similarity in the patterns of natives and the ethnic minority groups indicates that the processes taking place might be about more than assimilation between generations.

Exiting distressed neighbourhoods: The timing of spatial assimilation among international migrants in Sweden

“…A large number of studies have found evidence of spatial assimilation, both in North America (Massey & Denton, ; Pais, South, & Crowder, ; South et al, ) and in Europe (Feng et al, ; Macpherson & Strömgren, ; Musterd & van Gent, ; Silvestre & Reher, ; Skifter Andersen, ; Skifter Andersen, ; Skovgaard Nielsen, ; Valk & Willaert, ). However, the empirical results regarding the relationship between time and spatial assimilation are mixed.…”

“…However, the empirical results regarding the relationship between time and spatial assimilation are mixed. A number of studies have found support for spatial assimilation, showing that the level of residential segregation decreases with the duration of residence in the host country (Edgar, ; Silvestre & Reher, ; Skovgaard Nielsen, ; South et al, ). Also in line with spatial assimilation, second‐generation migrants have been found to be more likely than first generation ones to reside in native‐dominated suburban areas (Andersson, ; Edgar, ; Musterd & van Gent, ; Valk & Willaert, ).…”

“…In short, the spatial assimilation theory holds that, over time, migrants convert their socio-economic improvement into neighbourhood improvement. 2 A large number of studies have found evidence of spatial assimilation, both in North America (Massey & Denton, 1985;Pais, South, & Crowder, 2012;South et al, 2005) and in Europe (Feng et al, 2014;Macpherson & Strömgren, 2013;Musterd & van Gent, 2012;Silvestre & Reher, 2014;Skifter Andersen, 2010;Skifter Andersen, 2016;Skovgaard Nielsen, 2016;Valk & Willaert, 2012).…”

“…These theories have mainly been tested in the North American context, but the number of European studies on the subject is steadily growing (e.g., Bolt & van Kempen, ; Feng, van Ham, Boyle, & Raab, ; Lersch, ; Schaake, Burgers, & Mulder, ; Silvestre & Reher, ; Skifter Andersen, , ; Valk & Willaert, ). The literature contains a large variety of results, with some studies showing evidence of each of the theories as well as the coexistence of multiple theories, depending on the ethnic group (Bolt & van Kempen, ; Skovgaard Nielsen, ). A growing number of comparative studies have also revealed differences in patterns of spatial assimilation between different cities and countries (Bolt & van Kempen, ; Bolt et al, ; Edgar, ; Logan, Alba, & Zhang, ; Wessel, Andersson, Kauppinen, & Skifter Andersen, ).…”

“…a large variety of results, with some studies showing evidence of each of the theories as well as the coexistence of multiple theories, depending on the ethnic group (Bolt & van Kempen, 2003;Skovgaard Nielsen, 2016). A growing number of comparative studies have also revealed differences in patterns of spatial assimilation between different cities and countries (Bolt & van Kempen, 2010;Bolt et al, 2008;Edgar, 2013;Logan, Alba, & Zhang, 2002;Wessel, Andersson, Kauppinen, & Skifter Andersen, 2016).…”