1. The Economics of Attachment:
Immigrants’ Employment Experiences and Attachment to Canada
Abdie Kazemipur
Department of Sociology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
CRDCN Conference
Evidence-Based Policy Formation and Evaluation
Fredericton, NB
October 23-24, 2012

2. Predictors of Attachment to Canada
INTERACTION
WITH OTHERS
(social)
PLEASANTNESS
OF EXPERIENCES
Acknowledgment
of Discrimination
against Muslims
Pleasantness
of Economic
Experiences
Interaction of
Canadians with
Muslims
Positive
Impression
of Islam
Pleasantness
of Socio-cultural
Experiences
Attachment
to Canada
Interaction of
Muslims with
Muslims
Positive Image of Canadians
Interaction of
Muslims with
Canadians

3. Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants (pre-1960s)

4. Immigrants were more inclined to assimilate
Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants: In the pre-1960s Environment, ....
Most immigrants came from Europe
Were Self-selected (willing to confront the risks, costs, uncertainties)
Came from many countries
Were dispersed in many neighbourhoods
Immigration was discontinuous
Host populations shared a common/clear identity
Immigrants were more inclined to assimilate
1. This may be true for a ‘push-driven’ (as opposed to a ‘pull-driven’) immigration environment
2. In the ‘pull-driven’ environment, Immigrants must have a reason to integrate socially/culturally
3. The weight of push-pull factors may vary, based on immigrant category, e.g., for economic immigrants, the process is pull-driven

5. Social/Cultural Integration of Immigrants (post-1960s)

6. This study …
… examines the impact of economic experiences of immigrants on the strength of their attachment to Canada
… controls for other relevant variables
… uses the data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (LSIC)
7700 immigrants
3 waves(cycles)

15. ...Religion matters

16. … and Gender matters

17. Conclusions In a pull-driven international migration environment…
… Immigrants’ attachment to their new homes is a by-product …
… not of their conscious decisions but of their experiences, …
… and particularly, their economic experiences.
Against this background, the situation of Muslim immigrants calls for some attention…
… and that of Muslim immigrant women calls for a particular attention.