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Slipping through the Cracks of a Welfare State: Children of Immigrants in Finland

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  • Sarvimäki, Matti
  • Ansala, Laura
  • Hämäläinen, Ulla

Abstract

We document large differences in educational attainment, criminal sentences and use of psychotropic medication between the children of immigrants and natives living in Finland. Among the offspring of immigrants from the OECD countries and the former Soviet Union, the disadvantage in education reverses and differences in criminal sentences disappear once we condition on parental income and location of residence. In contrast, large gaps remain for the children of immigrants from other regions, even conditional on background characteristics. Furthermore, the children of immigrants from all source areas are substantially less likely to use psychotropic medication than the offspring of natives despite their higher self-reported mental health problems. These results suggest that institutions designed to help disadvantaged natives do not fully reach the children of immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarvimäki, Matti & Ansala, Laura & Hämäläinen, Ulla, 2016. "Slipping through the Cracks of a Welfare State: Children of Immigrants in Finland," Working Papers 72, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:fer:wpaper:72
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    File URL: https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/148729
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    children of immigrants; second-generation immigrants; education; crime; health; Labour market; Työmarkkinat; Labor market and policies promoting economic growth; Työmarkkinat ja kasvua tukeva politiikka; I210 - Analysis of Education; J150 - Economics of Minorities and Races; Non-labor Discrimination; I140 - Health and Inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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