Using data from the European Social Survey on most European countries, we look at the relationship between ethnic identity and employment prospects for immigrants from non-European countries. We find that a strong attachment to religion is associated with a lower probability of being employed. When we differentiate between first and second generations of immigrants, our evidence reveals signs of a cultural and economic integration of immigrants in Europe. However, when an extreme ethnic sentiment is preserved, the employment penalty is amplified. Our results also suggest that the strength of a person?s ethnic identity and its relationship with employment prospects may depend on the type of integration policy performed in the country where the immigrant lives. In particular, labor-market policies and family-reunion policies seem to facilitate the labor-market access to immigrants coming from non-European countries.
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Citation
Verdier, T, Y Zenou, A Bisin and E Patacchini (eds) (2011), “DP8212 Ethnic Identity and Labor-Market Outcomes of Immigrants in Europe”, CEPR Press Discussion Paper No. 8212. https://cepr.org/publications/dp8212






















