Are younger age groups less segregated? Measuring ethnic segregation in activity spaces using mobile phone data

ABSTRACT Both assimilation theory and common sense suggest that the longer the immigrants reside in a host society, the more they become integrated. However, studies conducted in many countries show the opposite: younger generations of immigrants are more segregated than their parents. The aim of this study is to examine differences in ethnic segregation between age groups of the Estonian majority and Russian-speaking minority in Estonia. We use census data and passive mobile positioning data (CDR) to measure levels of segregation at the individual level for important activity locations and for the whole activity space. Results indicate that segregation in both places of residence and out-of-home non-employment activity districts is higher in younger than in older age groups. Measures of activity space show that the activity spaces of Russian-speakers of all age groups are smaller and less diverse than those of Estonians, and are mainly bound to the places of residence of Russian-speakers. The differences between the activity space measures for Estonians and Russian-speakers generally reduce with age, which suggests higher ethnic segregation in younger age groups. The results thus show that, contrary to assimilation theory, the spatial behaviour of Russian-speakers has not become similar to that of Estonians over generations.