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The concept of assimilation has experienced a rebirth in the last fifteen years of immigration research. In critiquing this current emphasis, I explore the case of New Mexico in the Southwest where ethnic and cultural differences have been a hallmark for 400 years. Using data from the Navajo reservation, I argue that focusing on ways that Navajo families deal with increased regional migration, economic integration, and intermarriage offers insights into the processes by which elements from a dominant society are incorporated in to distinctive ethnic repertoire that also preserves cultural practices and identities. These processes also characterize change for new immigrant populations. Recent studies have stressed the need to examine the shifting US milieu, the role of new gateway cities in the South and West, and the importance of replenishment in creating the conditions for maintaining cultural difference. This article goes further and underlines the importance of examining variations within families, networks, and communities as well as attention to the micro-practices for creating new cultural forms and retaining older ones. Keywords: Assimilation; multiculturalism; Navajo; bricolage; family.

The economic and political aspects of assimilation and secession are discussed.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to collect data on the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of ethnic Greeks from the former USSR and then assess the extent to which [...]

Various explanations have been suggested concerning the causes of 'cultural clashes' and prescriptions for harmoniously integrating the beliefs and values of merging firms. Using a form of meta-analysis know as a case survey design, which combines the ideographic richness of case studies with the statistical generalizability of larger samples, and a sample consisting of 50 mergers and acquisitions (23 US domestic, 15 Swedish domestic and 12 Swedish cross-border), we found that acculturation is best achieved when the buying firms rely on social controls. That is, by participating in such activities as introduction programs, training, cross-visits, retreats, celebrations and similar socialization rituals, employees will create, of their own volition, a joint organizational culture regardless of expectations of synergies, the relative organization size and differences in nationalities and cultures. A post hoc analysis of a proposed integration control typology further suggests that social controls also indirectly influence acculturation by acting in concert with formal integrative efforts.

A comparative study of labor force participation among Mexican and Mexican American women in the rural and urban Southwest reveals that residence has negligible effects on employment, while acculturation, that resulted from better education, significantly affected labor participation. Rise in employment rates of these women cannot be attributed to their changing gender roles and cultural values. Instead, acculturation brought by educational attainment led to dilution of ethnic differences and helped increase employment opportunities. The study used data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the effect of age, education, marital status, family size and acculturation on labor force participation of these women.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on acculturation of Hispanic Americans. Respondents were 339 Mexican-American college students with a mean age of 20.34 who were asked to answer questionnaires which revealed their SES and acculturation rating. Findings revealed that respondents who were more acculturated belonged to families with higher SES and had parents who were better educated.

The public finance impact of immigrant groups of various world origins resident in Canada is analyzed by obtaining estimates of their tax payments and consumption of major public services. Results show that regardless of their country of origin all immigrant households are sources of net transfers to Canadians. A comparison of results is made with a similar U.S. study and some implications are drawn for immigration policy making.

This article examines the utilization of public assistance or welfare in Sweden by immigrants, focusing on how welfare participation decreases with the increase in the amount of time spent in Sweden. A comparison of welfare utilization between refugees, non-refugee immigrants, and natives is presented.

This paper presents an economic analysis of the intergenerational transmission of ethnic and religious traits though family socialization and marital segregation decisions. Frequency of intragroup marriage (homogamy), as well as [...]

IMMIGRANT AND EMIGRANT EARNINGS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY This paper analyzes the relationship between earnings and the extent of assimilation, cohort quality change, and return migration experienced by the foreign-born population. [...]