Migrant concentrations as zones of transition : ethnic assimilation and pluralism scenarios in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

This thesis study is an intergenerational analysis of ethnic residential concentration, dispersion and socio-economic mobility in Australia's two main immigrant receiving cities, Sydney and Melbourne. The arrival of seven million immigrants from almost 200 countries since the end of World War 2 has transformed many urban local areas, that were once culturally homogeneous, into multi-ethnic neighbourhoods. Such areas are a spatial reflection of complex interactions between social and economic forces, the interpretation of which is debated. This study considers whether ethnic residential concentrations are transitory phenomena or sites of permanent underclass formation. This thesis identifies factors which explain the spatial and socio-economic characteristics of three generations of ethnic groups, compared with the dominant Anglo Celtic population. It finds that ethnic groups with strong English skills and educational qualifications are likely to be both residentially dispersed and economically advantaged. Conversely, the most concentrated and disadvantaged groups are those with a low prevalence of human capital. These are, especially, recently-arrived groups originating from refugee flows. Nevertheless, this study finds that ethnic residential concentration has no significant effect on income when human capital and demographic factors are taken into account. Intergenerational trends are consistent with the traditional spatial assimilation model, in which the largest ethnic concentrations dissipate over time as communities become more established and socially mobile (Forrest and Poulsen 2003; Jupp et al. 1990; Poulsen et al. 2004).

These findings provide support for the thesis that local areas of ethnic residential concentration in Sydney and Melbourne are transitional zones which precede eventual dispersion and assimilation with the Anglo Celtic population. This study has also identified a few groups which appear to be successfully following pluralist paths, and a smaller number of more spatially concentrated groups with signs of economic vulnerability. This study extends the international literature concerning the relationship between intergenerational changes in ethnic economic attainment and spatial dispersion. Although these issues are important, they have not been the subject of extensive Australian research to date. Australian social researchers have often excluded ethnic groups with small populations or mixed them into highly-aggregated categorisations, such as 'non English-speaking-background'. This study contributes to existing knowledge by modelling thirty-five distinct ethnic groups that have settled in Australia from all major geographic regions of the world over a sixty-year period. Rather than using birthplace data, the analysis is based on self-reported ancestry data from the 2006 Australian census as the basis for an intergenerational ethnic classification. By dividing first generation groups into three cohorts reflecting time of arrival, the author has been able to compare groups that settled under very different economic and policy settings. As the young second and third generations of post World War 2 immigration grow in number and maturity, we are only beginning to observe their attainments. It is, however, clear that migrants and their children will play a vital role in shaping Australia's future directions. In this context, the relevance of current immigrant incorporation models warrants ongoing review. -- provided by Candidate. Show more