Ethnic Enclaves and Cultural Assimilation

This paper studies whether growing up in an ethnic enclave slows down immigrants’ cultural assimilation. To measure cultural behavior, I rely on individual-level administrative data on drug usage and focus on a culturally charged consumption: the usage of hormonal contraceptives by young immigrant women. To provide causal estimates of neighborhood influence, I exploit the quasi-random allocation of asylum seekers to government housing in the Netherlands between 1996 and 2012. While there is evidence of cultural assimilation over time, it is slow and cannot be accelerated by limiting the formation of ethnic enclaves

The Causal Effect of Ethnic Diversity on Support for Redistribution and the Role of Discrimination

We review the literature that investigates the causal effect of ethnic diversity on support for redistribution. The results indicate that ethnic diversity or an increase in the salience of ethnic minorities tends to reduce support for redistribution. Evidence is presented that this finding can be interpreted as an outcome of ethnic discrimination. Nonetheless, there is substantial heterogeneity, such that the effect of ethnic diversity on support for redistribution depends on the specific context. An important moderator of the effect is whether ethnic diversity is accompanied by interethnic contact

The Causal Effect of Ethnic Diversity on Support for Redistribution and the Role of Discrimination

We review the literature that investigates the causal effect of ethnic diversity on support for redistribution. The results indicate that ethnic diversity or an increase in the salience of ethnic minorities tends to reduce support for redistribution. Evidence is presented that this finding can be interpreted as an outcome of ethnic discrimination. Nonetheless, there is substantial heterogeneity, such that the effect of ethnic diversity on support for redistribution depends on the specific context. An important moderator of the effect is whether ethnic diversity is accompanied by interethnic contact

Catalyst-free hydrophosphination of alkenes in presence of 2-methyltetrahydrofuran: a green and easy access to a wide range of tertiary phosphines

International audienceA hydrophosphination reaction that is free of base, acid and catalyst, using only 2-methyltetrahydrofuran as additive has been performed. A new family of mono-, di,-tri-and tetra-phosphines compounds are obtained in good to excellent yields by adding diphenylphosphine to alkenes, mono-and polyfunctional acrylics (based on acrylate and methacrylate motifs) and acrylamide substrates. Addition of four equivalent of bio-mass derived 2-MeTHF into the reaction media improves both conversion and time of the reaction and reduces the sensitivity of the reactants over oxidation. This simple, straightforward and atom-economy method respects the principles of Green Chemistry. Furthermore, in each case this transformation shows an exclusive regioselectivity towards the anti-Markovnikov products

Preparation of chiral ruthenium(IV) complexes and applications in regio- and enantioselective allylation of phenols.

International audienceFacile preparations of chiral [Ru(Cp*)]- and [Ru(Cp')]-based allyl complexes featuring N,O chelate derived from (+)-nopinone are described. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis of one complex revealed the preferential configuration of the ruthenium centre and the orientation of the unsymmetrical allylic substituent. Applications of these complexes in catalysis for nucleophilic allylic substitution allowed regio- and enantioselective formation of branched allyl ethers from phenols

Operating a full tungsten actively cooled tokamak: overview of WEST first phase of operation

WEST is an MA class superconducting, actively cooled, full tungsten (W) tokamak, designed to operate in long pulses up to 1000 s. In support of ITER operation and DEMO conceptual activities, key missions of WEST are: (i) qualification of high heat flux plasma-facing components in integrating both technological and physics aspects in relevant heat and particle exhaust conditions, particularly for the tungsten monoblocks foreseen in ITER divertor; (ii) integrated steady-state operation at high confinement, with a focus on power exhaust issues. During the phase 1 of operation (2017–2020), a set of actively cooled ITER-grade plasma facing unit prototypes was integrated into the inertially cooled W coated startup lower divertor. Up to 8.8 MW of RF power has been coupled to the plasma and divertor heat flux of up to 6 MW m−2 were reached. Long pulse operation was started, using the upper actively cooled divertor, with a discharge of about 1 min achieved. This paper gives an overview of the results achieved in phase 1. Perspectives for phase 2, operating with the full capability of the device with the complete ITER-grade actively cooled lower divertor, are also described

Ethnic Enclaves and Cultural Assimilation

This paper studies whether growing up in an ethnic enclave slows down immigrants’ cultural assimilation. To measure cultural behavior, I rely on individual-level administrative data on drug usage and focus on a culturally charged consumption: the usage of hormonal contraceptives by young immigrant women. To provide causal estimates of neighborhood influence, I exploit the quasi-random allocation of asylum seekers to government housing in the Netherlands between 1996 and 2012. While there is evidence of cultural assimilation over time, it is slow and cannot be accelerated by limiting the formation of ethnic enclaves

Essays in empirical microeconomics

Defence date: 13 December 2019Examining Board: Prof. Andrea Ichino, European University Institute; Supervisor Prof. Michèle Belot, European University Institute; Prof. Yann Algan, Sciences Po; Prof. Eleonora Patacchini, Cornell UniversityThis thesis is a collection of independent essays in applied microeconomics. In the first chapter, I investigate if growing up in an ethnic enclave slow down the adoption of natives cultural behaviour by immigrants. To measure cultural behaviour, I use administrative data on usage of contraceptives by women aged 15 to 20. To observe exogenous variation in the ethnic concentration of (close) neighbourhoods, I rely on the random allocation of asylum seekers to government run accommodation in the Netherlands during the period 1996 to 2012. Although behaviours do converge with time, neighbourhood ethnic composition has no effect on this process. In the second chapter, co-authored with Eva Johansen, we study if teenagers decision to use contraceptives is influenced by peers. To identify peer effects, we rely on cross-cohort variation in students usage in Danish high-schools. To address the reflection problem, we focus on the influence of older cohorts on younger ones. Contraception not being prevalent among young women with a non-Western background, its usage is a good measure of cultural adaptation. Looking at the effect of different peers group is indicative of which is influential. Immigrant teenagers adapt their behaviours to what other immigrants (but not what other natives) do. Their probability of using contraceptives and of having an abortion becomes lower, but not their likelihood of being treated for chlamydia. In the third chapter, I study the influence of pre-migration social background on the economic assimilation of immigrants. I use unique French survey data to trace family histories over three generations, both in the sending country before migration and later in France. Pre-migration socioeconomic status is key in explaining the educational achievements of second generation immigrants. Holding the origin country fixed, it is as important as father's occupation in the destination country. After an initial loss at migration, the first generation regains human capital more slowly than the second generation develops its own. In a simple model of human capital accumulation, this can be due to (i) parents investing more in their children than in themselves or (ii) the productivity of the two investments being different. The latter channel is supported empirically.-- 1. Does growing up in an ethnic enclave slow down the adoption of natives cultural behaviour? -- 2. Who influences young immigrants? -- 3. The Intergenerational (Im)mobility of Immigrant

Thermal behavior of a passive solar wall with silica aerogel and phase change materials

International audienceThe present contribution discusses the thermal behavior of a passive solar wall composed of a glazing facing the outside, a channel filled with highly insulating and translucent silica aerogel, and glass bricks filled with an eutectic phase change material (PCM), facing the inside. First, the experimental building with the tested wall, south-oriented, is described. Second, the experimental results on four different weather conditions are detailed. Thanks to a numerical model, the wall behavior is simulated for the French climatic zones of Nice (Mediterranean climate), La Rochelle (oceanic climate), Embrun (inland mountain climate) and Nancy (cold continental climate). Results show that the wall is translucent and may save 27% to 83 % on the building energy bill for heating, depending on the building location. The wall performs best on cold sunny climates, where the phase change can occur all year. The air temperature inside the building is always 1 to 9°C above the external temperature. Overheating may occur in summer for Mediterranean and oceanic climates when the PCM stays in liquid state. This may be prevented by the use of shading