SULCIS Working Papers,
Stockholm University, Linnaeus Center for Integration Studies - SULCIS

Abstract: Assortative mating patterns in two dimensions namely, ethnic background and education are analysed in this paper for individuals with an immigrant background living in Sweden. We focus on the role of individual and spousal characteristics as well as the role of parental composition on partnership formation. Results indicate that assorative mating by ethnic background is significantly lower for second generation immigrants in comparison to first generation immigrants. In the case of assortative mating by education, although the descriptive statistics show that the proportion of educational homogamy is higher for second generation immigrants, after controlling for own and partners’ characteristics, educational homogamy is found to be significantly lower for those in the second generation. Gender differences in these patterns suggest that second generation females are significantly less likely than second generation men to be in educational homogamous partnerships relative to their first generation counterparts. In terms of parental composition, having a Swedish background (mother or father) is associated with lower ethnic endogamy, especially for first generation women. Having a Swedish background is also associated with significantly higher probabilities of educational homogamy but primarily only for first generation male immigrants.

Keywords: Positive Assortative Mating; Immigrant Status; Ethnic Endogamy; Education Homogamy

JEL-codes: F22; J12; J15; J16

32 pages, May 29, 2009

Full text files

SULCISWP2009_7.pdf  

Download statistics

Published as

Çelikaksoy Aycan, Nekby Lena and Rashid Saman, (2010), 'Assortative Mating by Ethnic Background and Education among Individuals with an Immigrant Background in Sweden', Journal of Family Research (Zeitschift für Familienforschung), vol 1, pages 65-88

• Stockholm University, Linnaeus Center for Integration Studies - SULCIS
• Home page for this series

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Eskil Wadensjö ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

RePEc:hhs:sulcis:2009_007This page generated on 2024-09-13 22:17:14.