The Role of Demographic and Market Characteristics in the Changing Structure of Family Formation Patterns in Sweden: The Case of Individuals with an Immigrant Background

Aycan E. Celikaksoy, Stockholm University

Using register data from Statistics Sweden for the whole population of individuals with an immigrant background, this paper analyzes the change in family formation patterns over generations, marriage / cohabitation cohorts and over time. We focus on the role of demographic, labour market and marriage market characteristics. The preliminary results indicate that intermarriage rates by ethnicity and educational homogamy are increasing. Higher levels of host country specific human capital have a negative association with ethnic endogamy rates and a positive association with educational homogamy rates. Sex ratios and relative group size are positively correlated to both types of assortative mating. Parental composition, (ethnic/educational homogamy in parents’ generation), increase the likelihood of assortative mating. The social boundaries defined by ethnicity and education in the marriage market are relatively more easily crossed by men with the accumulation of local and general human capital by the individual as well as his parents.