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The life-cycle and opportunities of migrants and natives in the Danish experience

Author

Listed:
  • De Giorgi, Giacomo
  • Prado, Maurício
  • Severgnini, Battista

Abstract

This paper examines income trajectories among migrants from various countries across three generations in Denmark, comparing them to native Danes. Exploiting comprehensive administrative datasets, we investigate economic mobility and evaluate whether Denmark provides economic opportunities for non-natives and their descendants. Our findings indicate that second and third generation immigrants gradually assimilate with Danes but maintain a significant and persistent income gap, contrasting with findings in the United States. We find suggestive evidence that ethnic capital plays a persistent and significant role in explaining these disparities.

Suggested Citation

  • De Giorgi, Giacomo & Prado, Maurício & Severgnini, Battista, 2025. "The life-cycle and opportunities of migrants and natives in the Danish experience," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:229:y:2025:i:c:s0167268124004815
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106867
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migration; Intergenerational mobility; Ethnic capital; Denmark;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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