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Optimal Immigration and Cultural Assimilation

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  • István Kónya

Abstract

This article develops a model that examines the role of cultural conflict in immigration and immigration policy. Cultural differences lead to frictions between natives and immigrants unless the latter make a costly investment to assimilate. This article’s key contribution is the joint analysis of the assimilation and migration decisions, which highlights the inefficiency of some commonly advocated policy tools to achieve the first best. U.S. data provide preliminary support for the model’s implications.

Suggested Citation

  • István Kónya, 2007. "Optimal Immigration and Cultural Assimilation," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 25(2), pages 367-391.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:25:y:2007:p:367-391
    DOI: 10.1086/511378
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cai, Shu & Zimmermann, Klaus F., 2020. "Social Assimilation and Labor Market Outcomes of Migrants in China," Discussion Papers 308017, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    2. Fenet Jima Bedaso & Uwe Jirjahn, 2024. "Immigrants and trade union membership: Does integration into society and workplace play a moderating role?," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 262-292, June.
    3. Sharun Mukand & Sanjay Jain & Sumon Majumdar, 2008. "Workers Without Borders? Culture, Migration And The Political Limits To Globalization," Working Paper 1196, Economics Department, Queen's University.
    4. Karoly Fazekas & Zsuzsa Blasko (ed.), 2016. "The Hungarian Labour Market 2016," The Hungarian Labour Market Yearbooks, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, number 2016, December.
    5. Gergely Horváth & Rui Zhang, 2022. "Ethnic entrepreneurship, assimilation, and integration policy," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 24(4), pages 781-816, August.
    6. Jain, Sanjay & Majumdar, Sumon & Mukand, Sharun W., 2010. "Workers Without Borders: On Culture and The Politics of Migration," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 19, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    7. Martin Kahanec & Michael Shields, 2013. "The working hours of immigrants in Germany: temporary versus permanent," IZA Journal of Migration and Development, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Monteiro, Stein, 2021. "Cultural Assimilation: Learning and Sorting," MPRA Paper 110997, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Xavier Chojnicki & Ainura Uzagalieva, 2008. "Labor Migration from East to West in the Context of European Integration and Changing Socio-political Borders," CASE Network Studies and Analyses 0366, CASE-Center for Social and Economic Research.
    10. Laliberté, Jean-William, 2019. "Language skill acquisition in immigrant social networks: Evidence from Australia," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 35-45.
    11. Zhiling Wang & Thomas de Graaff & Peter Nijkamp, 2018. "Barriers of Culture, Networks, and Language in International Migration: A Review," REGION, European Regional Science Association, vol. 5, pages 73-89.
    12. Zenou, Yves & Itoh, Ryo & Sato, Yasuhiro, 2021. "Intergenerational Assimilation of Minorities: The Role of the Majority Group," CEPR Discussion Papers 16830, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    13. Joost Bosker & Marc Gürtler, 2024. "The impact of cultural differences on the success of elite labor migration—Evidence from professional soccer," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 341(2), pages 781-824, October.

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