Socio-economic Integration Research Articles

African migrants in Japan: Social capital and economic integration

This study examines the strategies that African migrants in Japan adopt to build networks and utilize the social capital derived from the networks to achieve socio-economic integration and mobility in Japanese society. It is based on a field study conducted within the Tokyo metropolitan area in 2012. The study shows that in spite of racial prejudice, the African migrants in Japan build and draw heavily on bridging and linking social networks to promote economic integration. They develop these cross-cultural networks and capital through intermarriage with Japanese women, friendship and business ties with African Americans, Japanese youth and Japan’s business community. For some migrants, their high educational background facilitated their economic integration in Japanese society.

Intermarriage and Socioeconomic Integration

Previous studies show that immigrants to the United States married to natives earn higher wages than immigrants married to other immigrants. Using data from the 1980 to 2000 U.S. censuses and the 2005 to 2010 American Community Surveys, we show that these wage premiums have increased over time. Our evidence suggests that the trends are unlikely to be explained by changes in the attributes of immigrants who tend to marry natives but might instead be a result of changes in how these attributes are rewarded in the labor market. Because immigrants married to natives tend to have more schooling, part of the increasing premium can be explained by increases in the value of a college education. We find, however, that even when allowing the value of education and English-speaking ability to vary, intermarriage wage premiums have increased over time. We believe these patterns might be driven by changes in technology and globalization, which have made communication and management skills more highly rewarded in the U.S. labor market.

Childhood SES and social integration among older people in Japan

Background Study is limited on the association between childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and social integration, which is important for health among elderly. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between childhood SES and social integration among older people in Japan. Methods We used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) 2010. …

Ethnic penalties? The role of human capital and social origins in labour market outcomes of second-generation Moroccans and Turks in the Netherlands

ABSTRACTIn Western Europe, the children of Moroccan and Turkish migrants were found to be significantly disadvantaged in the labour market. This ethnic gap was found to persist after considering differences in schooling, which was argued to reflect ‘ethnic penalties’ driven by cultural, religious, or racial factors. This study uses data from the 1st Wave of the ‘Netherlands Longitudinal Life-Course Study’ (2009–2010) to revisit the analysis of ‘ethnic penalties’ for second-generation Moroccans and Turks. Unlike in previous research, empirical analyses not only consider differences in schooling, but also skills and social origins. Results show substantial ethnic inequalities in the labour market, with the exception of women from Moroccan origins. For men, these ethnic inequalities do not disappear when human capital factors are considered, but they do when accounting for the unprivileged social origins of ethnic minorities. For women, the disadvantage of second-generation Turks in achieving privileged occupations clearly disappears when human capital and social origins are considered. Yet, the chances of being unemployed among women of Turkish origins persist after controlling for education, skills, and social origins. Overall, this study has global academic and public policy implications to understand the socioeconomic integration of the Moroccan and Turkish second generation in Western Europe.

Development of Common Cultural Space of the Eurasian Integration: Russia and Kazakhstan

There are discussed the current issues of building the strategic priorities of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, in particular, Kazakhstan, interstate cooperation and cultural dialogue in the context of globalization.In the spotlight there is analysis of the presentations of experts and specialists at the open meeting of the International Round Table «Humanitarian and Socio-Economic Aspects of the Eurasian Cooperation», held on 1 April 2015 at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Particular emphasis was made on the importance of considering the traditions in the development of new models of intercultural communication, in clarifying the priority trends of socio-economic integration, socio-cultural interaction and the development of educational systems of the CIS countries.

An Empirical Study of Status Exchange through Migrant/Native Marriages in Italy

The growth of migrant/native marriages documented in many developed countries is often regarded as an indicator of immigrants’ assimilation into host societies. We argue that a close examination of assortative mating patterns in migrant/native marriages is critical for a proper assessment of the link between immigrants’ assimilation and intermarriage. Specifically, we test the relevance of the status exchange hypothesis to accounting for mixed marriages in Italy, a context characterised by a sharp increase in intermarriages and a particularly poor socio-economic integration of immigrants. We provide supportive evidence on status exchange by documenting significant deviations from the ‘standard’ patterns of positive assortative mating among migrant/native marriages. Exploiting Italian Labour Force Survey and Italian Register of Marriage micro-data, we find that migrant/native marriages are more likely when less-educated older native men marry better educated younger immigrant women, especially when the latter originate from non-Western countries. Immigrant women are also more likely to marry an Italian man if they are not employed at the moment of marriage. Patterns of assortative mating converge with those prevailing among native couples when immigrant women possess Italian citizenship at the moment of marriage, confirming the greater importance of status exchange when immigrants’ integration is low.

Evidence for Patterns of Selective Urban Migration in the Greater Indus Valley (2600-1900 BC): A Lead and Strontium Isotope Mortuary Analysis.

Just as modern nation-states struggle to manage the cultural and economic impacts of migration, ancient civilizations dealt with similar external pressures and set policies to regulate people’s movements. In one of the earliest urban societies, the Indus Civilization, mechanisms linking city populations to hinterland groups remain enigmatic in the absence of written documents. However, isotopic data from human tooth enamel associated with Harappa Phase (2600-1900 BC) cemetery burials at Harappa (Pakistan) and Farmana (India) provide individual biogeochemical life histories of migration. Strontium and lead isotope ratios allow us to reinterpret the Indus tradition of cemetery inhumation as part of a specific and highly regulated institution of migration. Intra-individual isotopic shifts are consistent with immigration from resource-rich hinterlands during childhood. Furthermore, mortuary populations formed over hundreds of years and composed almost entirely of first-generation immigrants suggest that inhumation was the final step in a process linking certain urban Indus communities to diverse hinterland groups. Additional multi disciplinary analyses are warranted to confirm inferred patterns of Indus mobility, but the available isotopic data suggest that efforts to classify and regulate human movement in the ancient Indus region likely helped structure socioeconomic integration across an ethnically diverse landscape.

Our Cutting Edge Isn't Cutting it: Why Public Administration Should Be the First Discipline to Implement a Social Class-Based Affirmative Action Plan for Hiring Professors

During the past several years, various writers and commentators have argued that as part of their affirmative action efforts, universities should enroll more students of working-class origins because socioeconomic integration ensures greater social equity, democracy, and intellectual diversity. The present study shows that the justifications applied to student diversity pertain equally well to professors. This discussion proposes that if public administration were first to use socioeconomic status-based affirmative in faculty hiring, it would prove the discipline’s willingness to meet its self-imposed obligation to be cutting edge, a promise studies have shown it has yet to fulfill.

BECOMING A MAN IN AL-WIHDAT: MASCULINE PERFORMANCES IN A PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP IN JORDAN

AbstractThis article explores the complex interplay between masculinity and nationalism among Palestinians living in a refugee camp in Jordan. Youth masculinity in the camp is widely perceived in Jordan as an expression of either immoral behavior or unthinking radicalism, and as a symbol of cultural and political difference and the failure of camp dwellers to embrace assimilation. However, camp dwellers’ masculinities are not uniform. I argue that young men's ability to navigate and master diverse and sometimes contrasting registers of manhood enables them to reproduce a Palestinian national identity in exile while achieving socioeconomic integration in Jordan. In pursuing this argument, the article has two goals: to challenge popular stereotypes about Palestinian refugees in Jordan today; and to problematize the discursive mutual dependency between nationalism and hegemonic masculinity in the study of Palestinian masculinity.

Relevant Aspects of the Integration of Post-Soviet Countries in the Project of the Eurasian Economic Space

Presents an analytical article reveals the socio-political conditions of integration of post-Soviet States in a globalized world, and competition international alliances. The main stages of socio-economic integration of the CIS countries in the post-Soviet space from the Commonwealth of independent States, Eurasian economic community, Customs Union. A special place is occupied by the discussion of issues related to the future established by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in Astana on May 29, 2014 Eurasian economic Union (EEU). Discusses some of the factors integration processes associated with the minds of the broad masses of the population of the three countries and with the specifics of the quality and mentality of their “elite”.

Urban Dimensions of Internal Displacement in Georgia: The Phenomenon and the Emerging Housing Policy

The issue of forced displacement has been one of the distinctive features of Georgian cities over the last two decades since regaining independence. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) emerged as a separate vulnerable group due to violent ethno-political conflicts in the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Owing to the lack of housing options a considerable number of IDPs were forced to settle collectively in non-residential buildings. Inappropriate for long-term living purposes and largely concentrated in urban fringe, their residential environment has fostered physical isolation, alienation and spatial segregation. The Government of Georgia bears legal responsibility for handling IDP problems. In 2007, state efforts were relatively weak and largely unclear before the State Strategy and Action Plan were adopted, covering all IDPs and aimed mainly at housing provision, promoting socio-economic integration and creating conditions for the dignified and safe return of IDPs to their original place of residence. This article has two aims: first, to present the specific phenomenon of internal displacement, specifically IDPs living in cities, and the difficulties faced by them drawing on the nationwide representative survey; and second, to discuss aspects of the State Strategy dealing with the housing issue.

Feasibility of applying the Indian Dalit (underprivileged) empowerment and poverty alleviation models to the roma situation in Central and Eastern Europe

Given the historical and cultural links, linguistic and genetic affiliations, proven as well as otherwise, the aim of this paper is to explore socio-economic similarities between the marginalized classes (Gypsies or nomadic tribes in the case of India) and Roma in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In doing so, the paper will focus on transferability of the ‘affirmative action’ model of India to address poverty, disempowerment and lack of integration of the Roma in CEE societies and lay down postulates for possible application for policy makers to work towards development and socio-economic integration of Roma communities. In this context, the EU- Roma framework and the national Roma integration strategies needs to be critically assessed to analyze fault lines in the governing model and prescribe a way forward. Consequent upon an acute form of marginalization of the Roma in CEE countries and their political vilifications, and with a significant lack of political representation, Roma communities are floundering for leadership and direction towards self-empowerment and better governance. The Indian model, with its well laid-out support mechanisms, could well be an option to look at seriously. This could lay a positive link between the precursors of Roma in India, the Dalits, and Roma in CEE countries.

The role of intermediation on the international aid for the governance of technical training program

This paper examines the factors affecting the governance of technological training programs under official development assistance (ODA) for the information and communication technology sector. There are diverse theories explaining the effectiveness of ODA in recipient countries. The most representative theories are based on paradigm shifts over time, starting from classical economic growth support, proceeding to socioeconomic integration, and ending with sustainable governance in the macro perspective. In general, ODA is considered to contribute to the development of recipient countries.However, the question of the effects of ODA still remains unanswered. This may result from methodological bias, which considers all arguments in parallel as independent variables. Inconclusive results may also arise from the missing link between ODA influx and its performance. Using the stepwise approach, the present study identifies this missing link in terms of mediation. Using the partial least squares regression (PLS) model, our empirical research concludes that sociocultural factors could be fully mediated, while sustainable governance factors, in terms of internal capacity and readiness, are partly mediated.

Assessing the Socioeconomic Mobility and Integration of U.S. Immigrants and Their Descendants

Over the last several decades, two of the most significant developments in the U.S. labor market have been (1) rising inequality and (2) growth in both the size and the diversity of immigration flows. Because a large share of new immigrants arrive with very low levels of schooling, English proficiency, and other skills that have become increasingly important determinants of success in the U.S. labor market, such immigrants and their descendants may be a poor fit for the restructured economy and consequently have a difficult time integrating into American society. In this article we discuss some of the issues that arise when investigating the socioeconomic integration of immigrants and their U.S.-born descendants, and we selectively review research on these topics. In addition, we consider what kinds of supplementary information might be valuable to collect to improve our understanding of immigrant integration and of the intergenerational mobility experienced by immigrant families.

Book Review: Greater Mekong Subregion: From Geographical to Socio-economic Integration

Book Review of the edited volume: Omkar Lal Shrestha and Aekapol Chongvilaivan (eds) (2013), Greater Mekong Subregion: From Geographical to Socio-economic Integration. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), ISBN: 978-981-4379-68-7, 270 pages

Diversified Housing Developments for Socio-Economic Integration in South Africa’s Urban Human Settlements

This paper investigates the diversification of housing development in South Africa as a means to promote socio-economic integration in urban human settlements. The need to encourage the establishment and improvement of diversified housing developments in urban areas has been widely recognised as an appropriate measure to ensure that people from different social and economic groups share the same neighbourhoods. In South Africa, socio-economic diversity in towns and cities was introduced in the early 19th century as an attempt to put people from different backgrounds in one place in order to address the inequalities which existed as a result of the past settlement planning system. Furthermore, the strategy was meant to limit the degree of isolation that the poor are faced with due to the past urban planning in order to maintain community stability, social bond and cohesion within human settlements. Theoretically, the paper argues that socio-economic diversity of housing developments have the ability to promote economic integration, social cohesion and community stability in urban human settlements. The pragmatic effects of housing development diversity can be realised through measures such as densification, mixing of different building structures that accommodates people from different backgrounds and equal accessibility to infrastructure, amenities and services, among others. The paper concludes that socio-spatial diversity within urban housing developments can be used as strategy to bring together people from different social and economic backgrounds in order to address inequalities that are associated with segregation. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n25p44

High school socioeconomic composition and college choice: multilevel mediation via organizational habitus, school practices, peer and staff attitudes

Qualitative research has identified college choice organizational habitus (CCOH) as an important mediating mechanism through which high school socioeconomic composition influences students’ college choice, perpetuating social reproduction and educational inequity. This study examines the mediation effects of 2 general forms of CCOH: normative structures (i.e., school practices directed towards preparing students for college studies) and the collective postsecondary attitudes of school peers, family, and school staff. The results indicate that socioeconomic composition has a substantial effect on college choice and that slightly more than half of the total effect is mediated by CCOH. Collective attitudes had the largest mediation effect of the 2 general forms of CCOH with peer attitudes being by far the most potent single measure followed by staff attitudes. These findings suggest that socioeconomic segregation of adolescents in schools perpetuates social reproduction and addressing that inequity may require greater socioeconomic integration of schools to alter peer composition.

Transnational Behavior in Comparative Perspective

This paper examines transnationalism across migrant generational statuses in three urban centers. The objective of this study is to explore how immigrant integration influences the maintenance of social and economic connections with the communities-of-origin. To accomplish this objective we examine the impact of socio-economic status and generational status (first to third) on whether respondents remit, visit their communities-of-origin, or desire to return. The data for this study is based on survey data collected in New York City, New York, U.S.A.;El Paso, Texas, U.S.A.;and Paris, France. We find that transnational practices differ across the three locations. In Paris we find evidence of reactive transnationalism — looking abroad due to exclusion in the new society. In New York, however, there is more support for resource-based transnationalism — better legal and socioeconomic integration that allows for more transnational involvement. Transnationalism in El Paso differs from NYC and Paris in large part due to being located along the U.S.-Mexico border. Surprisingly, we find that El Paso respondents are less transnational than those in Paris or New York when it comes to remittances, visiting, and the desire to return to the sending community. We conclude by proposing a new typology of transnationalism that accentuates the contextual aspects of these practices.

Chasing the European Dream: Unaccompanied African Youths’ Educational Experience in a Canary Islands’ Reception Centre and Beyond

In the last two decades, Spain’s Canary Islands have received thousands of undocumented migrants arriving by boat from the coasts of North and West Africa. The sharp increase of unaccompanied minors has presented a particular challenge, as these minors fall under the State’s protection system and are entitled to an education and other rights, once in Spain. What economic and socio-cultural factors push these youth to seek a better life whilst endangering their own? What educational opportunities are available to them in Spain and how can these propel them into secure living situations? What can be said about their integration prospects?This ethnographic study, based on field research carried out in a reception centre for unaccompanied minors in Tenerife, focuses on the youth’s migration trajectories, and on the extent to which the education and support they receive in Spain relates to their socio-economic integration into European society and beyond. The findings reveal that although the centre provides the youth with a window of opportunity to be in Spain and gain an education, the ambiguousness of their legal situation brought about by immigration policies once they have left the centre, is not conducive to their leading a stable and productive life in the current context.

Segmented assimilation and socio-economic integration of Chinese immigrant children in the USA

Research on the new second generation has paid much attention to testing one of the hypotheses posed by segmented assimilation theory – downward assimilation into America's underclass – and has neglected to examine other possible outcomes. In this paper, I address a much understudied pathway – assimilation by way of the ethnic community – based on a case study of Chinese immigrant children in the USA. I show that the children of Chinese immigrants have made inroads into mainstream America through educational achievement, not only because of the strong value their parents put on education but also because resources generated in the ethnic community help actualize that value. The Chinese American experience suggests that, in order to advance to the rank of middle-class Americans, immigrant parents have chosen the ethnic way to facilitate children's social mobility and achieved success. Paradoxically, ‘assimilated’ children have also relied on ethnicity for empowerment to fight negative stereotyping of the racialized other.