TOWARD A NEW DEFINITION OF REFUGEE ECONOMIC-INTEGRATION

The adequacy of current definitions of refugee economic integration wa s evaluated by comparing socioeconomic characteristics of Southeast As ian refugees with those of US-born residents. The results indicated th at Southeast Asian refugees had worse economic status than any US-born ethnic group. Large proportions of the refugees were not employed, we re receiving public assistance, and were living in poverty. The findin gs indicate a need for an expanded definition of refugee economic inte gration. A new definition is proposed and its implications are discuss ed.