Migration, Embeddedness, and Vulnerability During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Urban Studies

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic policies disproportionately affected migrants globally.
• Existing research often overlooks local embeddedness, focusing instead on social group inequalities.
• Understanding vulnerabilities requires examining economic, social, and human capital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the vulnerabilities of international migrants, second-generation residents, and non-migrants in an urban setting during the early COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze the differential impact of the pandemic on livelihood assets (economic, social, health) across these groups.
• To assess the role of local embeddedness in mediating pandemic-related vulnerabilities.

Main Methods:

• Online survey data collected in July 2020 from 1381 residents in Amsterdam.
• Comparative analysis of international migrants, second-generation residents, and non-migrants.
• Examination of impacts on economic, social, and human capital.

Main Results:

• International migrants, particularly recent arrivals, experienced greater shocks to economic and social capital.
• Second-generation residents showed health vulnerabilities, influenced by education and neighborhood.
• Self-employed individuals and those with lower relative wealth were more susceptible to economic shocks across all groups.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities, increasing vulnerabilities for migrant populations.
• Local embeddedness served as a protective factor against negative pandemic impacts for both migrant and non-migrant residents.
• Policy measures and individual circumstances significantly shaped differential pandemic experiences and resilience.