Page 49 - IJPS-7-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Objective and subjective assimilation of migrants

being question, the sample size is still relatively small. How are the two processes related in other dimensions?
Future relatively large sample surveys and studies are These questions will be important to explore and will be
clearly warranted to verify our results. Third, due to the hard to answer without fully applying the lens of this dual
data limitation, characteristics of local destinations, which framework to different dimensions of assimilation.
could shape migrants’ reference group choice, are not
accounted in the analyses. These may include the welfare 5. Conclusions
system in the destination, neighborhood conditions in In sum, this research shows that assimilation is not purely
the destination, and local attitudes toward migrants. an objective process, as the major assimilation theories
Fourth, the choice of reference group may change over have implicitly assumed and highlight that assimilation
time. Because this research is based on cross-sectional studies can generally benefit by allowing migrants to
data, it cannot account for this dynamism. If panel data choose their own reference group and then including
with reference group choice of migrants are available, the subjective path along with the objective path in the
future studies can rely on such data and explore factors following ways: (1) understanding assimilation as a two-
that affect the change of reference group choice. That is, force driven process which includes both objective and
how migrants’ choice of reference group may change and subjective paths; (2) identifying major stratification factors
in what circumstances, they will change their choice of that not only directly affect objective assimilation but also
the reference group. indirectly affect objective assimilation through subjective
Despite of these limitations, our findings can provide assimilation; and (3) separating the impacts of assimilation
some important policy implications to facilitate migrants’ on migrants outcomes such as subjective well-being into
assimilation. By differentiating between subjective and subjective and objective components.
objective paths, policymakers can efficiently target each Acknowledgments
path separately. For example, they may come up with
policies that inspire migrants to assimilate into the reference I would like to thank the Editor and the two anonymous
group (or aspiring migrants may pick the mainstream as reviewers for their detailed and constructive comments.
their reference group) and thus the mainstream through
the subjective path, or come up with policies that can Funding
elevate the migrants’ conditions and expand their ability None.
to assimilate into the mainstream. This is not possible
without implementing the two-path approach, given how Conflict of interest
specifically they intertwine. While the migrants’ conditions The author declares no competing of interest.
are elevated, they may be more inspired to assimilate. The
two-path approach can identify the complete structure, Author contributions
and an efficient policy can follow.
This is a single-authored paper.
For future research, it is important to apply this
two-path approach to different contexts to (1) better Ethics approval and consent to participate
understand, test, and improve the model in general and (2) Not applicable.
further explore the process of assimilation with the two-
dimensional lens. For example, as shown, the role of gender Consent for publication
is significant in the economic assimilation of rural-to- Not applicable.
urban migrants in China. Therefore, further investigation
is needed to fully understand gender differences in terms Availability of data
of assimilation outcomes. If men are more inspired to
assimilate into the reference group and more capable The data that support the findings of this study are openly
of assimilating into the mainstream, what could be the available in “China Institute for Income Distribution” at
reasons? Is it due to self-esteem and fewer occupational http://ciidbnu.org/chip/chips.asp?year=2013.
barriers or something else? Future research should also References
explore the different dimensions of assimilation. While
this paper focuses on economic assimilation, objective and Alba, R. (1999). Immigration and the American realities of
subjective processes could differ for other dimensions, such assimilation and multiculturalism. Sociological Forum,
as cultural assimilation (or acculturation). Which of the 14(1):3-25.
two processes is more important for the other dimensions? https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021632626811

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2021) 43 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v7i2.346