Acculturation Identity and Educational Attainment

41 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2007

See all articles by Lena Nekby

Lena Nekby

Stockholm University - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Magnus Rodin

Stockholm University

Gulay Ozcan

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: November 2007

Abstract

This paper explores the identity formation of a cohort of students with immigrant backgrounds in Sweden and the consequences of identity for subsequent educational attainment. Unique for this study is that identity is defined according to a two-dimensional acculturation framework based on both strength of identity to the (ethnic) minority and to the (Swedish) majority culture. Results indicate that integrated men are associated with significantly higher levels of education than assimilated men. No differences in educational attainment are found between the assimilated and the integrated for women. These results put into question the premise of oppositional identities, i.e., a trade-off between ethnic identity and educational achievement, among immigrants in Sweden.

Keywords: J15, J16, J21, Z13

JEL Classification: ethnic identity, acculturation, ethnic minorities

Suggested Citation

Nekby, Lena and Rodin, Magnus and Ozcan, Gulay, Acculturation Identity and Educational Attainment (November 2007). IZA Discussion Paper No. 3172, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1039321 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1039321

Lena Nekby (Contact Author)

Stockholm University - Department of Economics ( email )

Universitetsvägen 10 A
House A, floor 4 and 7
Frescati, Stockholm
Sweden

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Magnus Rodin

Stockholm University ( email )

Universitetsvägen 10
Stockholm, Stockholm SE-106 91
Sweden

Gulay Ozcan

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

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