A Comparative Study on Partnership Dynamics among Immigrants and Their Descendants

Hill Kulu, University of Liverpool
Tina Hannemann, University of Liverpool
Amparo Gonzalez-Ferrer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Ariane Pailhé, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Leen Rahnu, Tallinn University
Allan Puur, Tallinn University

This study investigates union formation and dissolution among immigrants and their descendants in four European countries with different migration histories and welfare state policies (United Kingdom, Estonia, France and Spain). While there is a growing body of literature on migrant families in Europe, there is little comparative research that has benefited from the opportunities that the European context offers. We use pooled data from the four countries and apply an event history analysis. The analysis shows a significant variation in partnership trajectories across migrant groups in some countries (e.g., South Asians versus Caribbeans in the UK) and similar union trajectories for some migrant groups in different countries (e.g., South Asians in the UK and immigrants from Turkey in France). The descendants of immigrants exhibit partnership patterns that are similar to those of their parents’ generation. The country context also matters; specific patterns are observed for Spain and Estonia.