The New Americans Recent Immigration and American Society Edited by Steven J. Gold and Rubén G. Rumbaut A Series from LFB Scholarly This page intentionally left blank Iranian Immigrants in Los Angeles The Role of Networks and Economic Integration Claudia Der-Martirosian LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC New York 2008 Copyright © 2008 by LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Der-Martirosian, Claudia. Iranian immigrants in Los Angeles : the role of networks and economic integration / Claudia Der-Martirosian. p. cm. -- (The new Americans : recent immigration and American society) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-59332-240-3 (alk. paper) 1. Iranians--California--Los Angeles--Economic conditions--20th century. 2. Iranians--Employment--California--Los Angeles--History-- 20th century. 3. Iranians--Kinship--California--Los Angeles--History-- 20th century. 4. Iranians--Social networks--California--Los Angeles-- History--20th century. 5. Iranians--California--Los Angeles--Ethnic identity--History--20th century. 6. Immigrants--California--Los Angeles--Economic conditions--20th century. I. Title. F869.L89I54 2008 304.8'7949405509048--dc22 2007043128 ISBN 978-1-59332-240-3 Printed on acid-free 250-year-life paper. Manufactured in the United States of America. To the loving memory of my parents, Stella and George This page intentionally left blank Table of Contents List of Tables …………………………………………... vii Acknowledgements .…………………………………... xi Preface …………………………………………...……. xiii Chapter 1: Economic Capital, Human Capital or Social Capital?……………………………………... 1 Chapter 2: The Iranian Survey .…………………….…. 17 Chapter 3: Timing of First Job ………………………… 33 Chapter 4: Shift in Occupational Status …..…………… 55 Chapter 5: Determinants of Income …………………… 71 Chapter 6: Self-Employment …………..……………… 87 Chapter 7: Ethno-Religious Groups ………………..… 105 Appendix A: Iranian Survey, Household Roster ….….. 123 Appendix B: Iranian Survey, Migration Experience….. 124 Appendix C: Iranian Survey, First Employment in U.S. 125 Appendix D: Iranian Survey, Current Employment……126 vii viii Table of Contents Appendix E: Iranian Survey, Network Ties …………..127 Appendix F: Iranian Survey, Employment in Iran ….. 128 Appendix G: Iranian Survey, Spouse’s Employment ...129 Appendix H: Iranian Survey, Study Questionnaire …...130 References ………………………………………..….. 145 Index ………………………………………….…..….. 159 List of Tables Table 2.1: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Iranian Males, LA County …………………………….…… 28 Table 2.2: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Iranian Females, LA County …………………..….… 29 Table 2.3: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Armenian Iranian Males, LA County ...…………..……. 30 Table 2.4: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Armenian Iranian Females, LA County ………..………. 31 Table 3.1: Sample Characteristics, Iranian Males, LA County, 1987-88 …………………..……….. 48 Table 3.2: Network Measures by Timing of First Job, Iranian Males, LA County 1987-88…….….... 49 Table 3.3: Logistic Regression, Finding First Job in the U.S., Iranian Males, LA County 1987-88 ...... 50 Table 3.4: Logistic Regression, Finding First Job in the U.S., Iranian Males, LA County 1987-88 ...… 51 Table 3.5: Logistic Regression, Finding First Job in the U.S., Iranian Males, LA County 1987-88 ...… 52 Table 3.6: Period of Immigration by Network Measures Iranian Males, LA County 1987-88 ……...… 53 . ix