Generation Immigrants In Germany Research Articles

Aspirations and Job Success of Highly Qualified Second Generation Iranians in Germany

This study pioneers the quantitative research of second generation Iranian graduates in Germany. Second generation immigrants in Germany, immigrants raised in Germany with at least one parent born abroad, are relevant as they are a crucial part of German society. Second generation immigrants in general as well as Iranians in particular are assumed to have high extrinsic aspirations. But a dataset big enough to study the employment situation of second generation Iranian graduates in Germany did not exist. Therefore, the article uses the KOAB dataset from 2011 to 2015, which contains data from 53,429 full-time employed higher education graduates in Germany (among those are 161 second generation Iranians). Their extrinsic job aspirations and career success (income, job satisfaction) are analyzed. Multivariate analyses reveal the higher extrinsic job aspirations of second generation Iranian graduates compared to many other migrant groups and Germans but similar to second generation Turkish graduates. Nevertheless, the extrinsic job aspiration is relevant, though only one factor among others to predict career success.

Feeling European: an exploration of ethnic disparities among immigrants

ABSTRACTOver the last 20 years, European identity has become a key topic widely investigated in social sciences. However, most research has only focused on EU nationals and EU immigrants, neglecting the fact that a substantial segment of citizens in Europe are non-EU immigrants. This article explores the differences between and within EU and non-EU immigrant groups in terms of European identity and potential factors behind these differences. Based on the 2013 IAB-SOEP Migration Sample of first generation immigrants in Germany (N = 2581), this paper reveals that non-EU immigrants tend to identify as European – even if to a lesser extent than EU immigrants. Moreover it provides a systematic comparative exploration of different factors possibly able to foster a European identity among EU and non-EU immigrants. It reveals, for instance, that religious affiliation has no significant impact but that spatial mobility is especially important in accounting for patterns in ethnic disparities in the endorsement of a European identity. Furthermore, this article illuminates a positive association between European identity and identity with the receiving society among both EU and non-EU immigrants as well as a positive association between European identity and identification with the origin country among EU immigrants.

Does Naturalization Facilitate Integration?

Abstract: This paper addresses the question of whether naturalization affects identification with the host country on the part of first generation immigrants in Germany. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, this study contributes to the literature on the positive effects of citizenship acquisition for immigrants’ integration, which so far, has focused on the impact of citizenship acquisition on labor market integration. Naturalization is discussed as an individual investment and unique event in immigrants’ life courses. It is argued that naturalization leads to an increase in national identification both as a means of avoiding dissonance and as a consequence of improved opportunities for identifying with the mainstream society. In summary, this study finds a positive effect of naturalization on national identification regardless of the new citizen’s country of origin. Although country of origin and national identification are generally at odds, further analysis reveals that naturalization may increase the compatibility of both identifications, at least in the case of naturalized Turks.

Relations between Second-Language Proficiency and National Identification: The Case of Immigrants in Germany

This paper discusses and empirically tests the relations between language proficiency and national identification with Germany among first generation immigrants in Germany. It presents three theoretical arguments: (1) language proficiency positively affects national identification; and contrastingly (2) national identification positively influences language proficiency; and (3) there is a reciprocal relationship between both constructs. To test these potentially contradictory claims empirically, we utilize data on first generation immigrants in Germany measured in four waves (1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003) from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) study. Language proficiency is operationalized with the variable proficiency in German language. Hypotheses are tested using autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation models. Findings demonstrate an effect of language proficiency on national identification among immigrants in Germany. However, data provide no support for an effect in the other direction.

Does Cultural Heritage Affect Employment Decisions – Empirical Evidence for Second Generation Immigrants in Germany

In 2010, in 59 percent of the families without migration background in Germany, both partners were in paid work. In contrast, this merely holds for 39 percent of the families with a migration background. Further, in 40 percent of these families with migration history only the father pursued an occupational activity (Statistisches Bundesamt, 2012a). Migration based differences in labor market behavior are mainly explained by highlighting the importance of demographic characteristics, like educational attainment and family composition, and structural variables, such as differences in the institutional and economic environment in the country of origin, assimilation, and social integration as well as the number of years since migration. Instead of focusing on individual and structural determinants of employment choices alone, the main thesis of this paper is that cultural norms regarding existing gender role models within society may play a major role for labor market decisions, especially for females.

Cultural Integration in Europe

This chapter investigates the integration processes of immigrants in Germany by comparing certain immigrant groups to natives differentiating by gender and immigrant generation. Indicators which are supposed to capture cultural integration of immigrants are differences in marital behavior as well as language abilities, ethnic identification and religious distribution. A special feature of the available data is information about overall life satisfaction, risk aversion and political interest. These indicators are also presented. All of these indicators are depicted in comparison between natives and immigrants differentiated by ethnic origin, gender and generation. This allows visualization of differences by ethnic groups and development over time. Statements about the cultural integration processes of immigrants are thus possible. Furthermore, economic integration in terms of female labor force participation is presented as an additional feature. Empirical findings suggest that differences among immigrants and between immigrants and Germans do exist and differ significantly by ethnic origin, gender and generation. But differences seem to diminish when we consider the second generations. This indicates greater adaption to German norms and habits, and thus better cultural, socio-economic and political integration of second generation immigrants in Germany.

Cultural Integration in Germany

This chapter investigates the integration processes of immigrants in Germany by comparing certain immigrant groups to natives differentiating by gender and immigrant generation. Indicators which are supposed to capture cultural integration of immigrants are differences in marital behavior as well as language abilities, ethnic identification and religious distribution. A special feature of the available data is information about overall life satisfaction, risk aversion and political interest. These indicators are also presented. All of these indicators are depicted in comparison between natives and immigrants differentiated by ethnic origin, gender and generation. This allows visualization of differences by ethnic groups and development over time. Statements about the cultural integration processes of immigrants are thus possible. Furthermore, economic integration in terms of female labor force participation is presented as an additional feature. Empirical findings suggest that differences among immigrants and between immigrants and Germans do exist and differ significantly by ethnic origin, gender and generation. But differences seem to diminish when we consider the second generations. This indicates greater adaptation to German norms and habits, and thus better cultural, socio-economic and political integration of second generation immigrants in Germany.

Labour Market Outcomes of Second Generation Immigrants: How Heterogeneous are They Really?

The second and third generation of immigrants have been the centre of a lively debate about the economic integration of immigrants into their host societies, but there is little empirical evidence on the German case. In this study I comprehensively portray the labour market outcomes of second generation immigrants in Germany. Special attention is attributed to observable heterogeneity in terms of country of origin and unobservable heterogeneity in terms of parental human capital, neighbourhood effects, and mixed marriage background. Pooled, static and dynamic panel data models, and a decomposition analysis are used to estimate and explain the average differences in hourly wages and unemployment probabilities separately for men and women. The results suggest that the second generation cannot be considered as one homogeneous group: some groups perform better, equally or worse than comparable German natives. Also, relative outcomes in wages depend mainly on observable characteristics, whereas relative unemployment risks are mainly driven by unobservable factors.

Are there Diverging Time Trends in the Educational Attainment of Nationals and Second Generation Immigrants? / Unterscheiden sich die Trends in der Entwicklung des Bildungserfolges von Einheimischen und Zuwanderern der zweiten Generation?

Summary The educational attainment of second generation immigrants is of crucial importance for their subsequent labor market success in Germany. While the schooling outcomes of Germans improved in recent decades, German-born children of immigrants did not partake in this development. The paper applies representative data from the Mikrozensus and the German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP) to investigate the development and determinants of educational attainment of immigrant youth. Even after controlling for covariate effects, the time trends in the educational attainment of nationals and second generation immigrants deviate. These different developments over time seem to be related to the changing nationality composition of second generation immigrants in Germany.

Cohort effects in the educational attainment of second generation immigrants in Germany: An analysis of census data

Even though second generation immigrants make up ever increasing population shares in industrialized countries we know little about their social integration and wellbeing. This study focuses on the educational attainment of German born children of immigrants. Their schooling success still lags behind that of natives. This paper investigates school attendance and completed degrees of second generation immigrants and finds that even after controlling for characteristics the educational gap remains large and significant. The available evidence suggests that this group as a whole does not assimilate to native educational standards and instead increasingly falls behind.

Cohort Effects in the Educational Attainment of Second Generation Immigrants in Germany: An Analysis of Census Data

Even though second generation immigrants make up ever increasing population shares in industrialized countries we know little about their social integration and wellbeing. This study focuses on the educational attainment of German born children of immigrants. Their schooling success still lags behind that of natives. We investigate completed degrees and school attendance of German born immigrants and find considerable evidence suggesting that this group does not assimilate to native education standards but instead increasingly falls behind.