Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP6453
Authors: Alberto Bisin; Eleonora Patacchini; Thierry Verdier; Yves Zenou
Abstract: Using the UK Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities, we explore the determinants of religious identity for Muslims and non-Muslims. We find that Muslims integrate less and more slowly than non-Muslims. A Muslim born in the UK and having spent there more than 50 years shows a comparable level of probability of having a strong religious identity than a non-Muslim just arrived in the country. Furthermore, Muslims seem to follow a different integration pattern than other ethnic and religious minorities. Specifically, high levels of income as well as high on-the-job qualifications increase the Muslims' sense of identity. We also find no evidence that segregated neighborhoods breed intense religious and cultural identities for ethnic minorities, especially for Muslims. This result casts doubts on the foundations of the integration policies in Europe.
Keywords: assimilation; muslims; religious identity
JEL Codes: A14; J15
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Education (I29) | Religious Identity (Z12) |
| Income (D31) | Religious Identity (Z12) |
| Neighborhood Integration (R23) | Religious Identity (Z12) |
| Segregated Neighborhoods (R23) | Religious Identity (Z12) |
| Discrimination (J71) | Religious Identity (Z12) |
| Muslims integrate less (J15) | Religious Identity (Z12) |
| Cultural Integration Patterns (F15) | Religious Identity (Z12) |