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Migration, Friendship Ties, and Cultural Assimilation

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Facchini
  • Eleonora Patacchini
  • Max F. Steinhardt

Abstract

We study immigrant assimilation by analyzing whether friendship with natives is a measure of cultural assimilation, and by investigating the formation of social ties. Using the German Socio-Economic Panel, we find that immigrants with a German friend are more similar to natives than those without German friends, along several important dimensions, including concerns about the economy, an interest in politics, and a host of policy issues. Turning to friendship acquisition, we find that becoming employed, time spent in the host country, the birth of a child, residential mobility, and additional education acquired in the host country are significant drivers of social network variation.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Facchini & Eleonora Patacchini & Max F. Steinhardt, 2015. "Migration, Friendship Ties, and Cultural Assimilation," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 117(2), pages 619-649, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:117:y:2015:i:2:p:619-649
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/sjoe.12096
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    Cited by:

    1. Bisin, Alberto & Patacchini, Eleonora & Verdier, Thierry & Zenou, Yves, 2016. "Bend it like Beckham: Ethnic identity and integration," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 146-164.
    2. Lanari, Donatella & Pieroni, Luca & Salmasi, Luca, 2020. "Regularization of Immigrants and Fertility in Italy," MPRA Paper 98241, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Xu, Dafeng, 2017. "Acculturational homophily," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 29-42.
    4. Moriconi, Simone & Peri, Giovanni & Turati, Riccardo, 2025. "Analyzing political preferences of second-generation immigrants across the rural–urban divide," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Giulia Bettin & Riccardo Lucchetti, 2016. "Steady streams and sudden bursts: persistence patterns in remittance decisions," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(1), pages 263-292, January.
    6. Verdier, Thierry & Zenou, Yves, 2017. "The role of social networks in cultural assimilation," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 15-39.
    7. Boysen-Hogrefe, Jens & Fiedler, Salomon & Groll, Dominik & Jannsen, Nils & Kooths, Stefan & Plödt, Martin & Potjagailo, Galina, 2015. "Deutsche Konjunktur im Winter 2015 - Aufschwung gewinnt wieder an Fahrt [German Economy Winter 2015 - The German economy is regaining momentum]," Kieler Konjunkturberichte 14, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    8. Luo, Chenghong & Mauleon, Ana & Vannetelbosch, Vincent, 2024. "Destabilizing segregation in friendship networks with farsighted agents," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 1-16.
    9. Ann-Marie Sommerfeld, 2023. "The Effect of Schooling on Parental Integration: Evidence from Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1198, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    10. Ann-Marie Sommerfeld, 2023. "The Effect of Schooling on Parental Integration," Jena Economics Research Papers 2023-018, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    11. Braun, Sebastian & Stöhr, Tobias, 2015. "Zur Arbeitsmarktintegration von Flüchtlingen," Kiel Insight 2015.24, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    12. Natalia Montinari & Matteo Ploner & Veronica Rattini, 2025. "Identity and Cooperation in Multicultural Societies: An Experimental Investigation," Papers 2507.02511, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2026.
    13. Ann-Marie Sommerfeld, 2024. "The Effect of Schooling on Parental Integration," CESifo Working Paper Series 11582, CESifo.
    14. Luo, Chenghong & Mauleon, Ana & Vannetelbosch, Vincent, 2022. "Friendship networks with farsighted agents," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2022021, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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