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

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearch

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.
Original languageEnglish
Publication date2019
Number of pages61
Publication statusPublished - 2019
EventImmigration: Research Frontiers & Policy Challenges - Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
Duration: 4 Oct 20195 Oct 2019
https://web.sas.upenn.edu/pic-lab/2019-conference-on-immigration/

Conference

ConferenceImmigration: Research Frontiers & Policy Challenges
LocationPerry World House, University of Pennsylvania
CountryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia
Period04/10/201905/10/2019
Internet address

ID: 228780040