Henning Finseraas (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Work-in-Progress seminars

What Explains the Integration Paradox?

Abstract: Previous research shows that better-integrated immigrants report more discrimination, which has been labeled an integration paradox. Different definitions of discrimination, different rates of exposure to natives, and methodological issues have been proposed as explanations to the paradox, but the importance of these explanations is poorly understood. We provide a critical discussion of the paradox and outline empirical tests of its explanations. To do so we rely on the “Vulnerable Neighborhoods Survey”, a unique two-wave survey targeted to residents in vulnerable neighborhoods in the Nordics, and representative surveys. We first confirm the existence of the paradox, and then use experimental tests, longitudinal measures, and new measurement tools to examine its explanations. We find support for two explanations: Compared to the less integrated, the better-integrated have more opportunities to experience discrimination, and they have a more encompassing definition of discrimination.