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Muslims in France: Identifying a Discriminatory Equilibrium

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  • Adida, Claire L.

    (University of California, San Diego)

  • Laitin, David D.

    (Stanford University)

  • Valfort, Marie-Anne

    (Paris School of Economics)

Abstract

We analyze the assimilation patterns of Muslim immigrants in Western countries with a unique identification strategy. Survey and experimental data collected in France in 2009 reveal that Muslims and rooted French are locked in a sub-optimal equilibrium whereby (i) rooted French exhibit taste-based discrimination against those they are able to identify as Muslims and (ii) Muslims perceive French institutions as systematically discriminatory against them. This equilibrium is sustained because Muslims, perceiving discrimination as institutionalized, are reluctant to assimilate and rooted French, who are able to identify Muslims as such due to their lower assimilation, reveal their distaste for Muslims.

Suggested Citation

  • Adida, Claire L. & Laitin, David D. & Valfort, Marie-Anne, 2012. "Muslims in France: Identifying a Discriminatory Equilibrium," IZA Discussion Papers 6953, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6953
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    4. Martin Kolmar & Andreas Wagener, 2019. "Group Identities in Conflicts," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 165-192, December.
    5. Verdier, Thierry & Zenou, Yves, 2017. "The role of social networks in cultural assimilation," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 15-39.
    6. François Bonnet & Etienne Lalé & Mirna Safi & Etienne Wasmer, 2015. "Better residential than ethnic discrimination! Reconciling audit's findings and interviews' findings in the Parisian housing market," Sciences Po publications 36, Sciences Po.
    7. Schaub, Max & Gereke, Johanna & Baldassarri, Delia, 2020. "Does Poverty Undermine Cooperation in Multiethnic Settings? Evidence from a Cooperative Investment Experiment," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 27-40.
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    11. Dmitry Grigoryev & Anastasia Batkhina & Fons Vijver & John W. Berry, 2020. "Towards an Integration of Models of Discrimination of Immigrants: from Ultimate (Functional) to Proximate (Sociofunctional) Explanations," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 667-691, September.
    12. Claire L. Adida & David D. Laitin & Marie-Anne Valfort, 2014. "Women, Muslim Immigrants, and Economic Integration in France," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 79-95, March.
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    14. Francois Bonnet & Etienne Lalé & Mirna Safi & Etienne Wasmer, 2016. "Better residential than ethnic discrimination! Reconciling audit and interview findings in the Parisian housing market," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(13), pages 2815-2833, October.
    15. Allison Demeritt & Karla Hoff, 2016. "“Small Miracles” — Behavioral Insights to Improve Development Policy: The World Development Report 2015," International Economic Association Series, in: Timothy Besley (ed.), Contemporary Issues in Development Economics, chapter 3, pages 19-43, Palgrave Macmillan.
    16. Philip Verwimp, 2015. "Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq and the Socio-Economic Environment They Faced at Home: a Comparison of European Countries," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2015-50, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    17. Sophie Cetre, 2020. "Essays on the determinants of wage inequality," Sciences Po publications info:hdl:2441/53c4o1e509l, Sciences Po.
    18. Jörg Dollmann, 2022. "The Political Integration of Immigrants: How Pre- and Postmigration Contexts Matter," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1091-1125, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    assimilation; Muslim and Christian immigrants; discrimination; France;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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