Native and Immigrant Ghosts: Effects of Origin and local identity on residential satisfaction in the North (Translated by Webmaster)

Abstract

Most communities in Iceland are characterised by substantial mobility and a high proportion of in-migrants. This study shows that less than half the adult population of Akureyri, Dalvík and Húsavík in Northern Iceland are born in the community and only 14% have never lived elsewhere. About half have lived in the Reykjavík capital area for a year or more, about a third elsewhere in Iceland and almost a quarter has lived abroad. Almost all inborn residents regard themselves as locals, about two out of three in-migrants who are raised in the community and about half of those who have lived there for more than ten years. Place identity is associated with residential satisfaction except among those who have lived in the community for five years or less. Binary logistic regression shows that residential satisfaction is associated with community, marital status, foreign background, age and employment that fits education. In-migrants who were raised in the community are significantly less satisfied with their residence, but generalised trust, solidarity with other residents and place identity are associated with greater residential satisfaction. The results suggest that community atmosphere and regional development can partly be determined by acceptance of all residents as locals.