A Schelling Model with Immigration Dynamics

The Schelling model of segregation since its first appearance in 1969 has enjoyed widespread popularity for its ability to generate patterns of segregation akin to those found in the many cities over the world to this day. This paper builds on this model to evaluate the effects of migration on segregation levels and segregating behaviour. In the wake of current political events such as the large-scale influx of refugees into Europe, I investigate how the scale of migration impacts the ethnic makeup of existing populations and how the overall satisfaction is affected. The results show that size and scale can impact a population differently, but that the crucial explanatory factor is the population density.