Oxford, 17/02/25 – A groundbreaking study co-led by Mathias Fjællegaard Jensen, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Economics at Oxford University, reveals that while immigrant parents often start with lower incomes than their locally born counterparts, their children are making significant economic progress.
The study, which is an international collaboration between 38 researchers, examines 15 immigrant-receiving countries across Europe and beyond and highlights that children of immigrants are narrowing the income gap with their peers. Around half of the remaining gaps in income between children of immigrants and children of locals can be explained by differences in parental income levels, while the rest is influenced by differences in income mobility across generations.
Key findings include:
- Daughters of immigrants experience greater upward mobility than daughters of locally born parents in most countries.
- Sons of immigrants face different challenges; those in continental European countries tend to have larger income gaps, while those in non-European countries and the UK fare better.
- Parental income explains only part of the gap, differences in labour market structures, education systems, and immigration policies play a crucial role in shaping outcomes.
- Countries with easier access to citizenship and positive attitudes towards immigrants see better mobility outcomes for immigrant children.
“This study provides valuable insights into how destination countries provide different economic prospects for the children of immigrants,” said Mathias. “We see that the challenges immigrant families face are not simply about where they come from, but also about the opportunities available in the country they settle in.”
By harmonising large-scale administrative data across multiple nations, the group of researchers can provide a rare comparative perspective on the economic integration of immigrants and their children, shedding light on the factors that contribute to long-term success.
The study highlights the importance of inclusive labour markets and policies that support integration for the economic success of children of immigrants, but also show that compared to their parents, children of immigrants experience income levels closer to those with no immigrant background in almost all destinations.
Read the paper here.
For further information or media enquiries, please contact: Freya Waites freya.waites@economics.ox.ac.uk Department of Economics, Oxford University
