Investing in children’s education: are Muslim immigrants different?

Abstract

Using a unique data set on immigrants living in France in 2003, we investigate whether Muslims invest differently in their children's education compared to non-Muslims. In particular, we want to assess whether educational inequalities between the children of Muslim and non-Muslim immigrants stem from differences between or within families. After controlling for a broad set of individual and household characteristics, we find no difference in education between children of different religions. However, we do find more within-family inequality in children's educational achievements among Muslims relative to non-Muslims. The within-family variance is 15% higher among Muslims relative to Catholics and 45% higher relative to immigrants with other religion, but the intra-family inequality remains difficult to explain. Overall, our results suggest that Muslim parents tend to redistribute their resources more unequally among their children.

Terrorism and Integration of Muslim Immigrants

“…The authors argue that a major goal of terrorist attacks is to induce a backlash against Muslims to radicalize moderate supporters who live in the same country as the perpetrators. 10 However, despite the growing economic literature on the integration of Muslim immigrants in western societies (e.g., Adida et al 2014;Arai et al 2011;Battu and Zenou 2010;Bisin et al 2008;Manning 2011, 2013;Manning and Roy 2010;Mitrut and Wolff 2014), no studies have used a panel structure to estimate changes in the integration attitudes of Muslim immigrants over time while accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. Therefore, there is no evidence which groups of individuals are most affected in terms of their perceived integration.…”

Ethnic gaps in educational attainment and labor-market outcomes: evidence from France

“…Regarding educational attainment, some US research shows that Asians outperform other groups, while Hispanic students do less well compared to Asians and non-Hispanic Whites (Arias 1986;Hirschman and Wong 1986;Lee and Rong 1988). Using data on immigrants living in France, Mitrut and Wolff (2014) find no difference in the education of children of Muslim and nonMuslim immigrants, but observe more within-family inequality in children's educational achievements among Muslims relative to non-Muslims.…”

Do English Skills Affect Muslim Immigrants’ Economic and Social Integration Differentially?

“…For instance, it has been found that Muslims are less likely to be employed than non‐Muslims in western Europe, while individual‐level factors explain less than half of the Muslim employment gap (Connor & Koenig, ). Studies also have shown that Muslim immigrants differ from natives and other immigrant groups in the expression of their religiosity, and their attitudes towards women and girls (De Hoon & Van Tubergen, ; Mitrut & Wolff, ; Adida et al , ). The recent events and violence in Europe and the USA have raised doubts and worries about the ability and willingness of Muslim immigrants and their offspring to integrate into Western society.…”