There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approache... more There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approaches to measuring and evaluating integration do not adequately fit the increasingly fluid and unpredictable patterns of migration observed today. Focusing on the transnational and liquid migration characteristic of Eastern European migrants, we propose a new conceptual framework that explains contemporary processes of migrant incorporation from the perspective of migrants themselves. Our model accounts for the “breadth and depth” of integration and contrasts deep integration and assimilation with functional adaptation, and integration into a certain group or network with integration into society as a whole. The analysis is based on comprehensive mixed-design research of Latvian migrants which includes a survey of 6,242 Latvian emigrants, as well as 15 in-depth interviews with internationally-mobile global talents. The bottom-up perspective that we employ sheds new light on how migrants themselves think about, and experience integration in their everyday lives.
Recommendations The study confirms the premise that has recently also been increasingly voiced in... more Recommendations The study confirms the premise that has recently also been increasingly voiced in foreign publications, that the <strong>host society plays the most important role in fostering integration</strong>. In order to avoid the isolation of migrants in professional, international or ethnic bubbles, it is <strong>important to provide opportunities for meaningful contacts with the local community and to promote openness</strong>. The bonds of friendship that develop can encourage migrants to become more deeply rooted in the host society. Secondly, the analysis clearly shows that <strong>when the future of a migrant</strong>, including the length and possibility of remaining in a given country, <strong>is uncertain</strong>, <strong>the motivation to invest time and effort in integration is reduced</strong>. It is therefore important on the part of the state to give migrants as much long-term certainty as possible and...
Children’s Well-Being: Indicators and Research, 2018
The understanding of children and young peoples’ well-being varies greatly not just between diffe... more The understanding of children and young peoples’ well-being varies greatly not just between different experts and scholars, but also across countries and cultures, depending on the historical and socio-economic context. However, an effective application of scholarly research to policy-making, especially at the supra-national level, requires establishing a comparable set of indicators that would allow measuring and comparing children and young people’s well-being across countries, over time and in relation to specific policy instruments. This chapter outlines the key findings from a Delphi survey, comprising a panel of 334 European experts in the fields of survey methodology, children and youth studies, well-being, and policy. Our findings reveal a strong consensus among experts that future studies should include both objective and subjective measures of well-being, potentially with an equal weight. Moreover, surveys should cover a lifespan from birth to 25 and include pre-natal information. We examine policy needs in relation to child well-being identified by the experts in different countries. The need for robust evidence in policy design and evaluation is frequently mentioned as experts identify important gaps between data coverage and policy relevance for some of the eudaimonic dimensions of well-being. Hence, this chapter not only highlights the differences in similarities between the understanding of well-being in different countries in Europe, and identifies a set of indicators to measure its different dimensions, but it also provides guidance as regards to specific steps that policy makers across Europe could take to enhance children and young people’s well-being.
While recent studies have highlighted the phenomenon and risks of increased inequalities between ... more While recent studies have highlighted the phenomenon and risks of increased inequalities between the top and the bottom of society, little research has so far been carried out on trends relating to the median income range that generally represents the middle class. This volume examines the following questions: what are the main transformations in the world of work over the last 20 years in terms of the labour market, social dialogue, and conditions of work, wages and incomes that may have affected the middle class? How has the middle class been altered by the financial and economic crisis? What are the long-term trends for the middle class in Europe?
Challenges related to the creation of public goods and engagement in collective action in post-co... more Challenges related to the creation of public goods and engagement in collective action in post-communist countries have previously been associated with a lack of social trust, the fragmentation of society, weak civic culture, citizens vs. state mentality or even fuzzy morality. One of the factors in the existing literature-the potential of which has not been sufficiently explored-is the role of collectivism, e.g., attachment to, and identification with a particular group. This paper aims to fill this gap and explores whether a strong national identity, which is characteristic to many ECE countries, can help to solve the problem of collective action, as well as public goods and common-pool resource dilemmas. The paper is based on a large-scale comparative survey of 14 East-Central European countries. The analysis shows that a strong sense of attachment to one's nation and country can facilitate collective action-joining various groups and associations and their activities, donating and volunteering, and engaging in political activities. It also facilitates contributing to the public good by paying wages honestly, declaring and paying taxes and being environmentally conscious. The positive effect of these actions can be explained in different ways, but, as our analysis shows, it is likely based on empathy with one's group, as well as on rational considerations.
There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approache... more There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approaches to measuring and evaluating integration do not adequately fit the increasingly fluid and unpredictable patterns of migration observed today. Focusing on the transnational and liquid migration characteristic of Eastern European migrants, we propose a new conceptual framework that explains contemporary processes of migrant incorporation from the perspective of migrants themselves. Our model accounts for the “breadth and depth” of integration and contrasts deep integration and assimilation with functional adaptation, and integration into a certain group or network with integration into society as a whole. The analysis is based on comprehensive mixed-design research of Latvian migrants which includes a survey of 6,242 Latvian emigrants, as well as 15 in-depth interviews with internationally-mobile global talents. The bottom-up perspective that we employ sheds new light on how migrants themselves think about, and experience integration in their everyday lives.
There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approache... more There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approaches to measuring and evaluating integration do not adequately fit the increasingly fluid and unpredictable patterns of migration observed today. Focusing on the transnational and liquid migration characteristic of Eastern European migrants, we propose a new conceptual framework that explains contemporary processes of migrant incorporation from the perspective of migrants themselves. Our model accounts for the “breadth and depth” of integration and contrasts deep integration and assimilation with functional adaptation, and integration into a certain group or network with integration into society as a whole. The analysis is based on comprehensive mixed-design research of Latvian migrants which includes a survey of 6,242 Latvian emigrants, as well as 15 in-depth interviews with internationally-mobile global talents. The bottom-up perspective that we employ sheds new light on how migrants themselves think about, and experience integration in their everyday lives.
Recommendations The study confirms the premise that has recently also been increasingly voiced in... more Recommendations The study confirms the premise that has recently also been increasingly voiced in foreign publications, that the <strong>host society plays the most important role in fostering integration</strong>. In order to avoid the isolation of migrants in professional, international or ethnic bubbles, it is <strong>important to provide opportunities for meaningful contacts with the local community and to promote openness</strong>. The bonds of friendship that develop can encourage migrants to become more deeply rooted in the host society. Secondly, the analysis clearly shows that <strong>when the future of a migrant</strong>, including the length and possibility of remaining in a given country, <strong>is uncertain</strong>, <strong>the motivation to invest time and effort in integration is reduced</strong>. It is therefore important on the part of the state to give migrants as much long-term certainty as possible and...
Children’s Well-Being: Indicators and Research, 2018
The understanding of children and young peoples’ well-being varies greatly not just between diffe... more The understanding of children and young peoples’ well-being varies greatly not just between different experts and scholars, but also across countries and cultures, depending on the historical and socio-economic context. However, an effective application of scholarly research to policy-making, especially at the supra-national level, requires establishing a comparable set of indicators that would allow measuring and comparing children and young people’s well-being across countries, over time and in relation to specific policy instruments. This chapter outlines the key findings from a Delphi survey, comprising a panel of 334 European experts in the fields of survey methodology, children and youth studies, well-being, and policy. Our findings reveal a strong consensus among experts that future studies should include both objective and subjective measures of well-being, potentially with an equal weight. Moreover, surveys should cover a lifespan from birth to 25 and include pre-natal information. We examine policy needs in relation to child well-being identified by the experts in different countries. The need for robust evidence in policy design and evaluation is frequently mentioned as experts identify important gaps between data coverage and policy relevance for some of the eudaimonic dimensions of well-being. Hence, this chapter not only highlights the differences in similarities between the understanding of well-being in different countries in Europe, and identifies a set of indicators to measure its different dimensions, but it also provides guidance as regards to specific steps that policy makers across Europe could take to enhance children and young people’s well-being.
While recent studies have highlighted the phenomenon and risks of increased inequalities between ... more While recent studies have highlighted the phenomenon and risks of increased inequalities between the top and the bottom of society, little research has so far been carried out on trends relating to the median income range that generally represents the middle class. This volume examines the following questions: what are the main transformations in the world of work over the last 20 years in terms of the labour market, social dialogue, and conditions of work, wages and incomes that may have affected the middle class? How has the middle class been altered by the financial and economic crisis? What are the long-term trends for the middle class in Europe?
Challenges related to the creation of public goods and engagement in collective action in post-co... more Challenges related to the creation of public goods and engagement in collective action in post-communist countries have previously been associated with a lack of social trust, the fragmentation of society, weak civic culture, citizens vs. state mentality or even fuzzy morality. One of the factors in the existing literature-the potential of which has not been sufficiently explored-is the role of collectivism, e.g., attachment to, and identification with a particular group. This paper aims to fill this gap and explores whether a strong national identity, which is characteristic to many ECE countries, can help to solve the problem of collective action, as well as public goods and common-pool resource dilemmas. The paper is based on a large-scale comparative survey of 14 East-Central European countries. The analysis shows that a strong sense of attachment to one's nation and country can facilitate collective action-joining various groups and associations and their activities, donating and volunteering, and engaging in political activities. It also facilitates contributing to the public good by paying wages honestly, declaring and paying taxes and being environmentally conscious. The positive effect of these actions can be explained in different ways, but, as our analysis shows, it is likely based on empathy with one's group, as well as on rational considerations.
There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approache... more There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approaches to measuring and evaluating integration do not adequately fit the increasingly fluid and unpredictable patterns of migration observed today. Focusing on the transnational and liquid migration characteristic of Eastern European migrants, we propose a new conceptual framework that explains contemporary processes of migrant incorporation from the perspective of migrants themselves. Our model accounts for the “breadth and depth” of integration and contrasts deep integration and assimilation with functional adaptation, and integration into a certain group or network with integration into society as a whole. The analysis is based on comprehensive mixed-design research of Latvian migrants which includes a survey of 6,242 Latvian emigrants, as well as 15 in-depth interviews with internationally-mobile global talents. The bottom-up perspective that we employ sheds new light on how migrants themselves think about, and experience integration in their everyday lives.
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Papers by Inta Mieriņa