INTERETHNIC MARRIAGE - BRINGING IN THE CONTEXT THROUGH MULTILEVEL MODELING

This article deals with the underlying causes of interethnic marriages of Turks and Moroccans living in Belgium. Predictions derived from as similation theory (micro-perspective) and from the macro-structural pe rspective are combined in a single empirical model through multilevel modelling. It is found that both individual and higher-level determina nts independently influence the propensity for being interethnically m arried. Higher odds are generally found for the second generation and at higher levels of age at marriage and educational attainment. Intere thnic marriage is further promoted by a small size of the ethnic group , by low ethnic heterogeneity and by low correlation between the ethni c and the socio-economic dimension. Interethnic marriages are generall y more prevalent in districts where the common language is French and where the majority of immigrants originate from urban regions in the c ountry of origin.