ethnicity2masthead

Ethnic group population change and integration

Researchers

Nissa Finney

Nissa Finney
University of Manchester

Email:nissa.finney@manchester.ac.uk

web:http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/staff/nf.htm

Abstract:

How is the geography of ethnic group populations changing in England and Wales? How does this relate to social integration of ethnic groups? This project addresses these questions in the context of renewed political and theoretical concerns about segregation. Using innovative quantitative methodologies the research aims to develop a new concept of spatial segregation based on processes of population change and to provide a re-theorisation of the links between spatial and social dimensions of integration.

Over the last decade concerns about diversity and integration have been shifting as a result of a period of new migration and a resulting situation of super-diversity. In particular, there has been a turn away from ideas and policies of multiculturalism towards a focus on shared values, rights and responsibilities, together with renewed concern about residential segregation. This project will produce a new way to think about spatial segregation by using a demographic approach which focuses on dynamic processes of population change rather than static measures of ethnic composition. This builds on ongoing work at the University of Manchester (see www.ccsr.ac.uk/research/mrpd). For wards in England and Wales, population change between 1991 and 2001 will be decomposed into its demographic components (natural change and net migration) for ethnic groups separately, and with broad age breakdown. This will provide new information about change over the decade and for small areas, analysis of which will result in a classification of areas according to their population dynamics.

The second contribution of this research is an explanation of the links between spatial segregation and structural and social dimensions of integration. It has traditionally been theorized that structural and social integration follow from spatial integration and that spatial integration is characterized by sequential moves away from dense urban areas and co-ethnic concentrations. These theories, developed in the first half of the twentieth century and based on the US situation, have remained remarkably undeveloped. Indicators of spatial integration, including the measures of population dynamics, structural integration and social integration will be statistically analysed to develop understanding of how population processes in the UK are related to integration of ethnic minorities.

This project will use 1991 and 2001 census data including aggregate statistics, interaction data (special migration statistics) and microdata; a robust time series of census-based population estimates 1991-2001; and the Home Office Citizenship Survey. The issues above will be investigated using cluster analysis, principal components analysis and linear modelling including multiple regression and spatial regression techniques.

Department:

CCSR, University of Manchester

Duration:

January 2008 - January 2010

Grant Type:

Research Fellowship

Publications

Finney, N. and Simpson, L. (forthcoming, 2009) Population dynamics: the roles of natural change and migration in producing the ethnic mosaic, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies [also available as CCSR working paper 2008-21].

Finney, N. and Simpson, L. (2009) ‘Sleepwalking to Segregation’? Challenging Myths of Race and Migration Policy Press, Bristol.

Simpson, L. and Finney, N. (2009) Spatial patterns of internal migration: evidence for ethnic groups in Britain, Population, Space and Place, 1: 37-56.

Finney, N. (2009) Does migration in Britain differ for ethnic groups (and is it causing ethnic segregation)?, CCSR Newsletter, February.

Simpson, L., Finney, N. and Lomax, S. (2008) Components of population change; An indirect method for estimating births, deaths and net Migration for age, sex, ethnic group and sub-regional areas of Britain, 1991-2001, CCSR Working Paper 2008-03, University of Manchester, Manchester.

Finney, N. and Simpson, L. (2008) Internal migration and ethnic group: Evidence for Britain from the 2001 Census, Population, Space and Place, 14: 63-83.

Simpson, L., Gavalas, V. and Finney, N. (2008) Population dynamics in ethnically diverse towns: the long-term implications of immigration, Urban Studies, 45(1): 163-184.

Presentations

Finney, N. (2009) Ethnic group population change and integration - presentation made at UPTAP workshop, University of Leeds, 25th March

Finney, N. (2008) Subnational migration and life stage: explaining the movement of young adults for ethnic groups in Britain, Presentation at the British Society for Population Studies, Manchester, September.

Finney, N. (2008) Rethinking ethnic segregation dynamically, Presentation at the Eurropean Population Conference, Barcelona, July.

Finney, N., Simpson, L. and Catney, G. (2008) Intercultural Cities Conference, Participation in ‘Ideas marketplace’, Liverpool, May.

Finney, N. (2008) The dynamics of ethnic group population change: a demographic explanation of clustering and dispersal, Presentation at the Population Association of America, New Orleans, April.

Finney, N. (2008) White flight and self segregation? What can migration in Britain tell us about ethnic integration? Invited seminar presentation at the Department of Geography and Sociology, University of Strathclyde, March.

Finney, N. (2008) Ethnic group population change and integration, Presentation at the UPTAP Workshop, University of Leeds, March.

Finney, N. and Simpson, L. (2008) Explaining ethnic differences in internal migration (and what they mean for segregation, Presentation at CCSR seminar, University of Manchester, February.