Same, Same but (Initially) Different? The Social Integration of Natives and Immigrants in Sweden

This study analyzes the social integration of immigrants and natives in Sweden using nine social measures; within region gender gaps in education, international and intra-national marriage propensities, young marriage, cohabitation, divorce, partner age gaps, female employment rates and female education levels. A process of social integration is found for all indicators as measured by relative gaps to natives across immigrant generations from the same region of origin. The relatively few deviations from this pattern found for some groups, primarily concerning international, intra-national marriage rates and cohabitation, is contingent on the selected sample of second generation immigrants with parents from the same country of origin. When estimation includes the majority of second generation immigrants with mixed backgrounds, a process of social integration is found for all groups and all social measures.