Are Muslim Immigrants Different in Terms of Cultural Integration?

Alberto Bisin (1) , Eleonora Patacchini (2) , Thierry Verdier (3, 4) , Yves Zenou (5)

1 New York University
2 UNIROMA - Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" = Sapienza University [Rome]
3 PSE - Paris School of Economics
4 PJSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques
5 The Research Institute of Industrial Economics

Using the UK Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities, we document differences in integration patterns between Muslims and non-Muslims. We find that Muslims integrate less and more slowly than non-Muslims. In terms of estimated probability of having a strong religious identity, a Muslim born in the UK and having spent there more than 30 years is comparable with a non-Muslim just arrived in the country. Moreover, higher levels of income as well as higher on-the-job qualifications seem to be associated with a stronger religious identity for Muslim immigrants only. Finally, we find no evidence that segregated neighborhoods breed intense religious and cultural identities for ethnic minorities, in general, and, in particular, for Muslims.

Domains: Humanities and Social Sciences; Economics and Finance

Alberto Bisin, Eleonora Patacchini, Thierry Verdier, Yves Zenou. Are Muslim Immigrants Different in Terms of Cultural Integration?. Journal of the European Economic Association, 2008, 6 (2-3), pp.445-456. ⟨10.1162/JEEA.2008.6.2-3.445⟩. ⟨halshs-00754289⟩