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Title: A Comparative Analysis of Intermarriage: Explaining Differences Among National-Origina Groups

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2010

Abstract: Little is known about the validity of group-level theories of ethnic intermarriage despite the factthat such theories are often invoked in explaining why certain ethnic groups are closed, whereasothers are relatively open. We develop a comparative perspective by analyzing the marriage choicesof 94 national-origin groups in the United States, using pooled data from the Current PopulationSurveys, 19942006, and multilevel models in which individual and contextual determinants of intermarriageare included simultaneously. Our analyses show large differences in endogamy acrossgroups. After taking compositional effects into account, we fi nd that both structural and culturalgroup-level factors have signifi cant effects on endogamy. Cultural explanations (which focus on therole of norms and preferences) play a more important role than structural explanations (which focuson meeting and mating opportunities). Our results reinforce the common but untested interpretation ofendogamy in terms of group boundaries.

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Authors: Van Tubergen, Frank; Kalmijn, Matthijs

Periodical (Full): Demography

Issue: 2

Volume: 47

Pages: 459-479

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Race and Ethnicity

Countries:

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