Social Networks and (Political) Assimilation in the Age of Mass Migration

This paper investigates the pathways through which immigrant communities (social networks) influence individual naturalization. Specifically, we examine impact that a fraction of naturalized co-ethnics, residing in same block as new New York City 1930, have on probability said becoming U.S. citizen 1940. Our results indicate concentration co-ethnics positively predicts naturalization and this relationship operates one main channel: information dissemination. Indeed, immigrants who live among are more likely to naturalize because they greater access critical about benefits procedures