Cultural transmission: The case of second-generation immigrant women in France

Details

Supervisors

Vandenberghe, Vincent

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences économiques, orientation générale, à finalité approfondie

Abstract

Global female labor force participation, educational attainment, and age at marriage vary widely across countries. Additionally, in the U.S., employment patterns of first-generation immigrant women often reflect those in their countries of origin (F. Blau et al., 2008). Among second-generation immigrant women, there is still considerable variation between origin countries in both labor force participation and education (Fernandez and Fogli, 2009; F. D. Blau, 2015). This is suggestive of cultural transmission. Yet, second-generation immigrant women in the U.S. have achieved significant upward mobility in education since 1965 (Park & Myers, 2010). Female labor force participation of second-generation and higher immigrants in the U.S. converges towards native levels (F. D. Blau, 2015). This, instead, suggests some assimilation into native culture. We argue that differences between immigrants and natives in key outcomes- labor force participation, education, and age at marriage —that affect socioeconomic outcomes are not solely determined by socioeconomic characteristics and human capital. They are also shaped by culture in the country of origin, specifically through mechanisms of cultural transmission. Moreover, we explore the interaction between network effects and cultural transmission, highlighting how the clustering of immigrants within geographical areas may reinforce cultural transmission. In this thesis, we empirically assess the presence and magnitude of cultural transmission using French data [Trajectoires et Origines (TeO), 2008, by Insee]. Our findings indicate that culture in the country of origin explains significantly labor force participation of second-generation immigrant women, even after controlling for personal, parental, and partner characteristics. This points to the role of cultural transmission. However, the culture in the country of origin does not explain variations in educational attainment and age at marriage of second-generation immigrant women. These results suggest that second-generation immigrant women do not necessarily adopt the cultural norms in their country of origin regarding education and age at marriage. Yet, cultural transmission continues to affect their access to the labor market. Furthermore, there is no significant evidence that the clustering of immigrants within departments affects the magnitude of cultural transmission.