Strelitz, Jason
(2006)
The second generations: A longitudinal study of origins and socio-economic outcomes for children of immigrants in England and Wales.
PhD thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Abstract
This thesis is a study of the relationship between childhood circumstances and socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood for the Second Generation; children of immigrants in the UK. Using data from the ONS Longitudinal Study it aims to answer two main questions. After controlling for a range of childhood characteristics, are there significant differences in the aggregate socio-economic outcomes of Second Generation groups and the children of UK born parents. To what extent are particular childhood characteristics associated with socio-economic outcomes among the Second Generation. The thesis analyses the experiences of the Second Generation as a whole, and a broad range of origin groups, including children of parents from: the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, India, Ireland, Pakistan, Southern Europe and 'White' English Speaking origins. Alongside a control group, of children of UK born parents, this breadth provides an important comparative perspective. The results show the Second Generation to have experienced greater upward social mobility than the children of UK born parents but to be more disadvantaged in terms of deprivation and unemployment. These patterns are exacerbated when controlling for prior characteristics. All individual Second Generation groups experience greater long range upward mobility and disadvantaged origins appear less of a risk factor for disadvantaged destinations than they do for children of UK born parents. But for some, there is greater risk of downward mobility; advantaged origins are not the protective factor, which they are for most people. The results show that for the Second Generation, socio-economic and geographical origins are important predictors of adult outcomes. However the relationship between social origins and destinations may be weaker than for children of UK born parents. It is discussed, whether factors such as greater levels of aspiration, and experiences of racism and discrimination may mediate the long term trajectories of some of the Second Generation.
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