Working Together? Ethnic Diversity in the Workplace and Generalized Social Trust

Peter Thisted Dinesen; Kim Mannemar Sønderskov; Frederik Thuesen

Working Together? Ethnic Diversity in the Workplace and Generalized Social Trust

Peter Thisted Dinesen, Kim Mannemar Sønderskov, Frederik Thuesen

Abstract

Several influential studies show that living in more ethnically diverse settings erodes generalized social trust among the native-born population. Yet, critics argue that this is a biased portrayal of the consequences of ethnic diversity for trust because co-habitation only entails superficial, stereotype-confirming exposure to other ethnic groups rather than meaningful contact with them. Conversely, interethnic contact can in fact build up, rather than erode, generalized social trust, according to this perspective. However, putting the “contact argument” to a convincing empirical test has been complicated by several methodological challenges. In this paper, we provide a rigorous test of this argument by studying a contact-prone context—the workplace—using registrylinked survey data from Denmark. Despite setting the scene for the contact argument, our empirical analyses consistently show a negative effect of ethnic diversity in the workplace on social trust. This result holds in a series of analyses, including in panel data models. Our results thus provide little support for the contact argument, and instead vindicate theories highlighting the negative consequences of ethnic diversity for trust.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Publikationsdato	2019
Antal sider	61
Status	Afsendt - 2019
Begivenhed	Immigration: Research Frontiers & Policy Challenges - Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA Varighed: 4 okt. 2019 → 5 okt. 2019 https://web.sas.upenn.edu/pic-lab/2019-conference-on-immigration/

Konference

Konference	Immigration: Research Frontiers & Policy Challenges
Lokation	Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania
Land/Område	USA
By	Philadelphia
Periode	04/10/2019 → 05/10/2019
Internetadresse	https://web.sas.upenn.edu/pic-lab/2019-conference-on-immigration/

Citationsformater

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title = "Working Together? Ethnic Diversity in the Workplace and Generalized Social Trust",

abstract = "Several influential studies show that living in more ethnically diverse settings erodes generalized social trust among the native-born population. Yet, critics argue that this is a biased portrayal of the consequences of ethnic diversity for trust because co-habitation only entails superficial, stereotype-confirming exposure to other ethnic groups rather than meaningful contact with them. Conversely, interethnic contact can in fact build up, rather than erode, generalized social trust, according to this perspective. However, putting the “contact argument” to a convincing empirical test has been complicated by several methodological challenges. In this paper, we provide a rigorous test of this argument by studying a contact-prone context—the workplace—using registrylinked survey data from Denmark. Despite setting the scene for the contact argument, our empirical analyses consistently show a negative effect of ethnic diversity in the workplace on social trust. This result holds in a series of analyses, including in panel data models. Our results thus provide little support for the contact argument, and instead vindicate theories highlighting the negative consequences of ethnic diversity for trust.",

author = "Dinesen, {Peter Thisted} and S{\o}nderskov, {Kim Mannemar} and Frederik Thuesen",

year = "2019",

language = "English",

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note = "Immigration: Research Frontiers & Policy Challenges ; Conference date: 04-10-2019 Through 05-10-2019",

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T1 - Working Together? Ethnic Diversity in the Workplace and Generalized Social Trust

AU - Dinesen, Peter Thisted

AU - Sønderskov, Kim Mannemar

AU - Thuesen, Frederik

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N2 - Several influential studies show that living in more ethnically diverse settings erodes generalized social trust among the native-born population. Yet, critics argue that this is a biased portrayal of the consequences of ethnic diversity for trust because co-habitation only entails superficial, stereotype-confirming exposure to other ethnic groups rather than meaningful contact with them. Conversely, interethnic contact can in fact build up, rather than erode, generalized social trust, according to this perspective. However, putting the “contact argument” to a convincing empirical test has been complicated by several methodological challenges. In this paper, we provide a rigorous test of this argument by studying a contact-prone context—the workplace—using registrylinked survey data from Denmark. Despite setting the scene for the contact argument, our empirical analyses consistently show a negative effect of ethnic diversity in the workplace on social trust. This result holds in a series of analyses, including in panel data models. Our results thus provide little support for the contact argument, and instead vindicate theories highlighting the negative consequences of ethnic diversity for trust.

AB - Several influential studies show that living in more ethnically diverse settings erodes generalized social trust among the native-born population. Yet, critics argue that this is a biased portrayal of the consequences of ethnic diversity for trust because co-habitation only entails superficial, stereotype-confirming exposure to other ethnic groups rather than meaningful contact with them. Conversely, interethnic contact can in fact build up, rather than erode, generalized social trust, according to this perspective. However, putting the “contact argument” to a convincing empirical test has been complicated by several methodological challenges. In this paper, we provide a rigorous test of this argument by studying a contact-prone context—the workplace—using registrylinked survey data from Denmark. Despite setting the scene for the contact argument, our empirical analyses consistently show a negative effect of ethnic diversity in the workplace on social trust. This result holds in a series of analyses, including in panel data models. Our results thus provide little support for the contact argument, and instead vindicate theories highlighting the negative consequences of ethnic diversity for trust.

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T2 - Immigration: Research Frontiers & Policy Challenges

Y2 - 4 October 2019 through 5 October 2019

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