Immigrant Integration in Europe. A Subjective Well-Being Perspective. Angela Paparusso (2021).

Abstract

This book explores immigrant integration in Europe in all its complexity and multidimensional character. The author begins by providing a brief historical background of immigration in Europe in order to understand the evolution of this phenomenon towards something structural. She then goes into the traditional models of immigration in that continent and the immigration policies implemented in the different countries, assessing its effect by making reference to the Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020 affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. What makes this book original, in this sphere, is the introduction of the concept of subjective well-being applied both to immigrants and European host countries. This subject is tackled through surveys which lead to the analysis of self-reported life satisfaction among first generation immigrants in seven European countries. In this respect, Angela Paparusso focuses particularly in Italy where she studies the wellbeing and integration of children with a migrant background In her conclusions, she dwells on policy making which calls for the incorporation of local, national, and international governmental institutions and further proposes novel lines of study.