Now and forever? Initial and subsequent location choices of immigrants

This paper exploits a natural experiment to study the influence of regional factors on initial and subsequent location choices among immigrants. The results suggest that immigrants to Sweden are attracted to regions with high representation from the individual’s birth country and large overall immigrant populations. Labor market opportunities affect location decisions, but people also tend to choose localities with many welfare recipients. The impact of most regional factors does not change over time. Thus, there is little evidence that information improves or that preferences differ between initial and subsequent stages.Immigration; location choice; secondary migration

Shifting attitudes and the labor market of minorities: Swedish experiences after 9-11

Several studies suggest that the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001, caused at least a temporary change of attitude toward certain minorities in Sweden. We study unemployment exit around 9-11 using detailed data on the entire Swedish working-age population to investigate whether this change in attitudes also affected the labor market situation of these minorities. Contrary to what to expect from many theories of labor market discrimination, the time pattern of exits and entries for different ethnic groups, as well as difference-in-differences analyses, show no sign of increased discrimination towards these minorities.Labour market discrimination; minorities; etnic groups

Do when and where matter? Initial labor market conditions and immigrant earnings

This paper investigates the long-term effects on immigrant earnings and employment from labor market conditions encountered upon arrival. We find substantial effects both of the state of the national labor market and of local unemployment rates. Comparing refugees entering Sweden in a severe and unexpected recession to refugees arriving in a preceding economic boom, we attempt to handle the issue of selective migration. The analysis of effects at the local level exploits a governmental refugee settlement policy to get exogenous variation in local labor market conditions.Immigration; earnings: labor market conditions

Ethnic enclaves and welfare cultures - quasi-experimental evidence

We examine peer effects in welfare use among immigrants to Sweden by exploiting a governmental refugee placement policy. We distinguish between the quantity of contacts – the number of individuals of the same ethnicity – and the quality of contacts – welfare use among members of the ethnic group. OLS regressions suggest that both these factors are positively related to individual welfare use. Instrumental variables estimations yield the conclusion that only the quality of contacts matter. An increase of the fraction of the ethnic group on welfare by 10 percent raises the individual probability of welfare use by almost 7 percent.Ethnic enclaves; welfare use; immigrants

Family size and child outcomes: Is there really no trade-off?

Recent empirical work questions the negative relationship between family size and children’s attainments proposed by theoretical work and supported by a large empirical literature. We use twin births as an exogenous source of variation in family size in an unusually rich dataset where it is possible to separately look at intermediate and long run outcomes. We find little evidence of a causal effect on long term outcomes such as years of schooling and earnings, and studies that do not take selection effects into account are likely to overstate the effects. We do, however, find a small but significant negative impact of family size on grades in compulsory and secondary school.Family size; twin births; education; earnings

Ethnic Enclaves and Welfare Cultures – Quasi-Experimental Evidence

We examine peer effects in welfare use among immigrants to Sweden by exploiting a governmental refugee placement policy. We distinguish between the quantity of contacts—the number of individuals of the same ethnicity—and the quality of contacts – welfare use among members of the ethnic group. OLS regressions suggest that both these factors are positively related to individual welfare use. Instrumental variables estimations yield the conclusion that only the quality of contacts matter. An increase of the fraction of the ethnic group on welfare by 10 percent raises the individual probability of welfare use by almost 7 percent.immigrants, welfare use, ethnic concentration, welfare cultures, immigration

Virtues of SIN - effects of an immigrant workplace introduction program

We evaluate an immigrant workplace introduction program aimed at helping individuals considered employable but at the same time expected to experience substantial difficulties in finding work. Using supported employment methods, the SIN program may influence outcomes through several channels. We use in-dividual data and a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the effects of the program. The results suggest that the program increased transitions from unemployment to work experience schemes, and improved future employment probabilities for those who entered these schemes.Unemployment; labor market programs; immigrants

Measuring conditional segregation: methods and empirical examples

In empirical studies of segregation it is often desirable to quantify segregation that cannot be explained by underlying characteristics. To this end, we propose a fully non-parametric method for accounting for covariates in any measure of segregation. The basic idea is that given a set of discrete characteristics, there is a certain probability that a person belongs to a particular group, which can be used to compute an expected level of segregation. We also demonstrate that a modified index of exposure has both favorable analytical features and interpre-tational advantages in such settings. The methods are illustrated by an applica-tion to ethnic workplace segregation in Sweden. We also show how one can use a measure of exposure to study the earnings consequences of segregation stemming from different sources.Exposure; covariates; ethnic workplace segregation

Will I see you at work? Ethnic workplace segregation in Sweden 1985–2002*

We study ethnic workplace segregation in Sweden using linked employer-employee data covering the entire working-age Swedish population during 1985–2002. Segregation is measured as overexposure to a particular group, taking into account the distribution of human capital, industry and geography. We find considerable workplace segregation between immigrants and natives but the results differ substantially between ethnic groups. Segregation has increased during the period, mainly due to changes in the ethnic composition. Immigrants are particularly overexposed to workers from their own birth region but also to other immigrants. Children to immigrants are only overexposed to immigrants from their parents region of birth. Segregation—particularly in the immigrant-native dimension—is in general negatively correlated with economic status.Workplace segregation; ethnic minorities; immigrant assimilation

Do anonymous job application procedures level the playing field?

Anonymous application procedures (AAP) are increasingly promoted as a way to combat employment discrimination. The idea gets support from theory and experimental evidence, but virtually nothing is known about its real-life effects. We present empirical evidence building on micro data collected in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, where AAP was used in parts of the local administration. Difference-in-differences estimates, with extensive controls for qualifications, suggest that AAP increased the chances of advancing to interviews for both women and individuals of non-Western origin. Women also experienced a higher probability of being offered a job, but no such effect is found for immigrants.Anonymous applications; discrimination; employment