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In this book I explore whether and how the spatial location of non-Western immigrants in the Netherlands matters for their economic success in the labour market and in self-employment. More specifically, I aim to find out how the local spatial environment in the place of residence, or place of firm location (for the self-employed), shapes immigrant economic prospects. This aim is reached by combining a number of thematic, complementary research projects. These projects assess the socio-economic position of non-Western immigrants in the country, analyse neighbourhood segregation effects on labour market outcomes, and examine spatial location effects on migrant business performance. To answer the research question, I combine quantitative and qualitative methods. The overall conclusion of my work is clear: Space matters for immigrant economic success both in the labour market and in self-employment. Location is an important determinant of economic success of non-Western immigrants in the Netherlands as regions, municipalities and neighbourhoods within municipalities offer different labour market and self-employment opportunities to migrants.
About the author
The author obtained his Master of Economics degree and PhD from Maastricht University. At present he is a researcher at the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency in The Hague, the Netherlands. He also lectures at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance and conducts research in cooperation with the University of Utrecht.
