Immigration, integration and ghetto formation

TL;DR

This paper models ghetto formation using a two-dimensional Ising model with Kawasaki dynamics, showing how phase structure, integration speed, and immigration rate influence whether ghettos form or can be avoided.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of the Ising model to simulate and analyze the dynamics of ghetto formation and integration in immigrant-native populations.

Findings

Ghetto formation depends on phase structure, integration speed, and immigration rate.

Simulations show conditions under which ghettos can be avoided.

Out-of-equilibrium dynamics are crucial for understanding real-world scenarios.

Abstract

We study ghetto formation in a population with natives and immigrants in the framework of the two-dimensional Ising-model with Kawasaki-exchange dynamics. It is the phase structure of the Ising model, the integration speed and the immigration rate which determine whether ghetto formation between natives and immigrants can be avoided or not. Our simulations are performed in and out-of equilibrium.