Life at the frontiers
The Impact of Social Frontiers on the Social Mobility & Integration of Migrants
Project owner
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Project categories
Basic Research
Project period
April 2020 - January 2024
Project summary
Our aim is to understand the role of 'social frontiers' in determining the social mobility and integration of migrants and other groups. Social frontiers arise when neighbouring communities are very different in terms of their cultural, ethnic and/or social make-up, and when the spatial transition in these characteristics is abrupt, rather than gradual. Recent research finds that social frontiers are associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression and crime.
Our concern is that social frontiers also impede education and employment outcomes, leading to lower social mobility.
Our pioneering programme of research will examine the impact of social frontiers on social mobility and their implications for integration using a combination of detailed qualitative research and pioneering quantitative methods.