Housing Market Integration of Migrants: Moroccans in Spain

Abstract

Moroccans are the largest group of immigrants in Spain. Once they arrive at the new place, one of their first necessities is to access shelter. Focusing on the south‐eastern region of Murcia in Spain and combining quantitative and qualitative data, I explore the process of housing market integration of Moroccan migrants. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of this process and the role that the interaction between the supply side and the foreign demand of accommodation plays. Thereby, I will emphasise how an unfavourable structure of the housing market, along with behaviour of local private landlords on the supply side leads to considerable problems concerning the housing market integration of migrants in Spain. Thus, this paper aims to give a more accurate interpretation of the dynamics influencing the housing outcomes of migrants in the studied area.

The living arrangements of Moroccans in Spain: Generation and time

“…Moving away from one's parents requires economic resources that may be provided either by the state in the form of welfare and a generous housing policy (Zorlu and Mulder 2011) or earned income. Considering Spain's limited welfare and housing arrangements (Arpino, Muttarak, and Vitali 2015;Meier 2013) compared to countries like the Netherlands (Zorlu and Mulder 2011), employment status becomes particularly important in determining the likelihood of leaving the parental home to start a new household. Moreover, education influences the propensity of union formation and childbearing at young ages, which we intend to capture by looking at the living arrangements of young adults aged 20 to 34 while controlling for educational attainment.…”