Paris as a gateway? Spatial inequalities in immigrant integration across French regions

Abstract

This paper examines the labor market performance of immigrants and their descendants in France by estimating a series of empirical Tobit II models for the Paris region and the rest of the country. The analysis focuses on two central outcomes—labor force participation and wage disparities—comparing the experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants with those of native-born individuals. The models include a comprehensive set of individual-level controls, such as gender, educational attainment, ethnic origin, and geographical location, to capture the influence of socio-demographic, cultural, and spatial factors on labor market integration. The results show that, despite ongoing policy efforts, substantial spatial disparities persist. Immigrants and their descendants perform noticeably better in the Paris region than elsewhere in France. In Paris, ethnic origin has only a limited effect on employment and wages, whereas in other regions it remains a significant barrier to both participation and wages. This spatial mismatch underscores the uneven distribution of integration opportunities across the country, reflecting regional variations in institutional capacity, economic dynamism, and social openness.