Integration of migrants in Italy: A simple general and objective measure

Di Bartolomeo, Anna and Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni (2007): Integration of migrants in Italy: A simple general and objective measure.

Abstract

Measuring migrants’ integration into host societies is a challenging task as, in general, measuring any social behavior and social phenomena. The task is affected by many specific problems related to the definition of the objective of study and the impact of subjective evaluations in the construction of an index. Our study aims to provide a measure of integration as much as possible general and objective. More in details, first, we consider some different general aspects of the integration problem related to migrants’ polarization, cultural diversification, social stability, integration in the labor market. Second, we aggregate them in a synthetic linear index, which is rather objective since the weights are computed by only considering the statistical properties of our dataset, i.e. choosing those weights that minimize the information loss in terms of data variances/co-variances.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Migrations; migrants’ integration; regional index; principal component analysis
• Subjects: J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J15 - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants ; Non-labor Discrimination; R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R10 - General; J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J10 - General; J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J18 - Public Policy

References

Bauer, T. and K.F. Zimmermann (1997), 'Integrating the East: The labor market effects of immigration,' in: S.W. Black (ed.), Europe’s economy looks East - Implications for Germany and the European Union, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 269-306.

Bauer, T., M. Lofstrom and K.F. Zimmermann (2000), “Immigration policy, assimilation of immigrants and natives’ sentiments towards immigrants: Evidence from 12 OECD countries,” Swedish Economic Policy Review, 7: 11-53.

Billotta, E, A. Di Bartolomeo, A. Guarneri, M. Simone (2006), “Opinioni e atteggiamenti degli studenti: un’indagine nelle scuole medie del Lazio”, Proceedings of the Conference on Giornata studio sull’integrazione dei minori immigrati nelle scuole at the University of Rome La Sapienza.

Boeri, T., G. Hanson and B. McCormick (2002), Immigration policy and the welfare system, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Borjas, G.J. (1994), “The economics of immigration,” Journal of Economic Literature, 32: 1667-1717.

Borjas, G. J. (1999), “The economic analysis of immigration,” in O. Ashenfelter and D. Card (editors), Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3A, New York, North Holland.

Carbonai, D. and G. Di Bartolomeo (2006), “Interlocking directorates as a thrust substitute: The case of the Italian non-life insurance industry,” Working Paper No. 1, Department of Communication, University of Teramo.

CNEL (2004), “Immigrazione in Italia. Indici di inserimento territoriale. III Rapporto,” CNEL, Roma.

Del Boca D. and A. Venturini (2005), “Italian migration,” in Zimmermann (2005): 303- 336.

Di Bartolomeo, G. and E. Marchetti (2004), “Central banks and information provided to the private sector,” BNL Quarterly Review, 230: 265-297.

Entzinger H. and Biezveld R. (2003), Benchmarking on immigrant integration, report for the European Commission by European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER), EU project No. DG JAI-A-2/2002/006.

Freeman, G. (1995), “Modes of immigration politics in liberal democratic states.” International Migration Review 29: 881-902.

Geddes A. and J. Niessen (edotors) (2005), European civic citizenship and inclusion index, Foreign Policy Center, Migration Policy Group, British Council Brussels, Brussels.

Golini A., S. Strozza, F. Amato (2001), “Un sistema di indicatori di integrazione: primo tentativo di costruzione,” in Zincone (2001).

Gregori E. and L. Mauri (2005), “Un paniere di indicatori per il monitoraggio dell’integrazione sociolavorativa degli immigrati” in Dinamiche di integrazione sociolavorativa di immigrati. Ricerche empiriche in alcuni segmenti del mercato del lavoro lombardo edited by Cologna D., E. Gregori, C. Lainati, L. Mauri, Synergia, Guerini e Associati, Milan.

Gregori, E. (2006), “Indicators of migrants’ socio-professional integration,” FEEM Nota di Lavoro No 59.

Hansen, R. (1999), “Migration, citizenship and race in Europe: Between incorporation and exclusion,” European Journal of Political Research 35: 415-444. Jolliffe, I.T. (1986), Principal components analysis. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

Noy-Meir, I. (1973), “Data transformation in ecological ordination: I. Some advantage of non-centering,” Journal of Ecology, 61: 329-341.

OECD (2006), From immigration to integration: Local solutions to a global challenge, OECD, Paris.

Penninx, R., K. Kraal, M. Martiniello and S. Vertovec (2004), Citizenship in European Cities: Immigrants, Local Politics and Integration Policies. Aldershot, Ashgate.

Rogers A. and J. Tillie (2001), Multicultural policies and modes of citizenship in European cities. Aldershot, Ashgate.

Zincone, G. (editor) (2000), Primo rapporto sull’integrazione degli immigrati in Italia, Commissione per le politiche di integrazione degli immigrati, Il Mulino, Bologna.

Zincone, G. (editor) (2001), Secondo rapporto sull’integrazione degli immigrati in Italia, Commissione per le politiche di integrazione degli immigrati, Il Mulino, Bologna.

Zimmermann K.F. (2005), European migration: What do we know?, Oxford University Press, Oxford.