Introduction

Daniel Rauhut
Additional contact information
Daniel Rauhut: Centre for Migration and Integration Studies

Chapter Chapter 1 in Institutional Economics and Immigrant Integration, 2026, pp 1-27 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter examines cultural distance as a central dimension of immigrant integration, highlighting how differences in values, norms, and informal institutions shape social, economic, and political outcomes. Despite rich theoretical development, existing approaches remain fragmented, conceptually imprecise, and limited in predictive power. Research has struggled to measure cultural distance systematically, to connect theory with policy relevance, and to explain variation in integration outcomes across contexts. By identifying these gaps, the chapter argues for more precise, measurable, and policy-relevant frameworks that can guide differentiated responses to diversity and strengthen democratic legitimacy in increasingly plural societies.

Keywords: Cultural distance; Immigrant integration; Informal institutions; Institutional economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-28361-0_1

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783032283610

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-28361-0_1

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Books from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().