Social Exclusion Risks and their Accumulation among Russian-Speaking, Ethnically Finnish and Estonian Immigrants to Finland

Abstract

This paper addresses the social exclusion risks of Russian-speaking and Estonian immigrants to Finland. The third research group consisted of ethnic Finns from Estonia and the Russian Federation. Our research sample consisted of 2,360 respondents; the response rate was 64 per cent. Based on a living conditions approach, the study took into account the potential influence of discrimination. We understood social exclusion multi-dimensionally as an accumulation of various risks, studied on three levels: labour market status, subsistence and health. Risks were defined as unemployment, subjective poverty, and poor self-rated health. Immigrants with at least two of these three risks were considered at risk of social exclusion. Our main hypothesis was ethnically based: the situation of the Russian-speakers would be worse than that of Estonians; no hypotheses were set concerning the situation of ethnic Finns. Social exclusion risks accumulated for a small minority: they were over three times more common among Russian-speakers (20 per cent) than among Estonians (6 per cent), with ethnic Finns at 17 per cent. Finnish ethnicity as such—independent of language skills—does not seem to give a special advantage. Labour market and poverty risks go hand-in-hand, the latter more common. The results indicate a health-based selection of Russian-speaking and Estonian male immigrants to Finland. Discrimination was linked to the risks of social exclusion. We note in conclusion the importance of policies for social inclusion and anti-discrimination.

Keywords:

• Immigrants
• Social Exclusion
• Social Inclusion
• Russian-Speakers
• Living Conditions
• Discrimination

Notes

1. See (www.mol.fi/mol/fi/99_pdf/fi04_maahanmuutto/08_maahanmuuttotilastot/wulktyoll.pdf).

2. For country reports, see www.www.who.org for 2005.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Simo Mannila

Simo Mannila is Senior Expert in International Development Collaboration at STAKES (Research and Development Institute of Health and Welfare), Helsinki and Reader in Sociology at the University of Helsinki

Anni Reuter

Anni Reuter is a Researcher at the Rehabilitation Foundation, Helsinki