Benjamin Jarvis, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Linköping University, studies the relationship between kin proximity (living near family members), residential mobility and the continued segregation between different origin groups living in Stockholm.
Where immigrants who come to Sweden settle has consequences for future generations:
“We show that tendencies to live close to relatives can maintain existing segregation but is not sufficient to create it. How society provides housing for newly arrived immigrants is important for future segregation.”
The studies are funded by the Swedish Research Council and focus on the second generation. These are individuals born in Sweden to parents with a foreign background or who arrived as very young children. The aim was to estimate how relatives influence young people’s choice of residential area when they move between the ages of 18 and 30.
Simulation models
“It is not a new insight that many people move close to their parents. What we show is that the location of the parents’ home can reinforce segregation.”
The researchers reached this conclusion by combining theoretical models with empirical analysis.
“We use simulation methods. First computational agent-based models to demonstrate the theory. Then we use real register data to create what are known as counterfactual scenarios. In these we can simulate what mobility patterns would have looked like under different conditions.”
Real decisions
This allows the researchers to compare the segregation that arises from real decisions with the segregation that would have arisen if people, for example, did not care about proximity to family or did not care about which groups lived in a particular area.
“We can also estimate how much the desire to live near family contributes to segregation at the societal level.”
The researchers observe that people tend to move to areas close to relatives even when controlling for origin, socioeconomic status and other life course factors. Simulations of residential mobility still show that proximity to relatives contributes to higher levels of segregation between Swedish and non Swedish origin groups.
“The effects are greater for groups that already experience high levels of segregation in relation to the Swedish majority.”
Socioeconomic inequalities
The effects of segregation and socioeconomic inequalities between urban districts are well documented. A high concentration of socioeconomic disadvantage in a district can have consequences at both individual and societal levels in the form of lower school performance, higher unemployment, crime and mental ill health. Untapped labour potential also means reduced tax revenue.
The effects are greater for groups that already experience high levels of segregation
What can be done about segregation?
“Our study does not provide a definitive answer. However, we discuss a few proposals in the study. For instance, we believe that it must be easy to travel between districts and that high quality public services must be ensured.”
Do you have an example?
“If people feel they must live close to ageing parents to provide support, then it may be important for society to ensure that services for older adults are of high quality especially in areas containing the most segregated groups. Combined with good public transport, it may then become easier for the children to decide to move to another part of the city, for example to live closer to their workplace,” says Benjamin Jarvis.
