Discussion paper

DP6490 Ethnic Identity and Immigrant Homeownership

Immigrants are much less likely to own their homes than natives, even after controlling for a broad range of life-cycle and socio-economic characteristics and housing market conditions. This paper extends the analysis of immigrant housing tenure choice by explicitly accounting for ethnic identity as a potential influence on the homeownership decision, using a two-dimensional model of ethnic identity that incorporates attachments to both origin and host cultures. The evidence suggests that immigrants with a stronger commitment to the host country are more likely to achieve homeownership for a given set of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, regardless of their level of attachment to their home country.

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Citation

Zimmermann, K, A Constant and R Roberts (2007), ‘DP6490 Ethnic Identity and Immigrant Homeownership‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 6490. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp6490