Cultural assimilation and segregation in heterogeneous societies

Abstract

I propose a model of cultural assimilation with endogenous social networks and idiosyncratic assimilation patterns that is consistent with the empirical evidence for Europe. The model implies that assimilation is weaker in pluralistic or more culturally heterogeneous societies, and stronger in socially denser societies, but it is not influenced by the minority share. Social segregation for the minority increases with social density, with the minority share, and with the initial average cultural distance between the majority and the minority.