A Dynamic Model of Immigrant Integration: Structure, Agency and Mutual Willingness

ABSTRACT Immigrant integration is a multidimensional and dynamic process, yet existing theories often privilege either structural constraints or individual agency while neglecting the reciprocal nature of integration. This paper advances integration theory by developing a dynamic model that formalises the interplay between structure, agency, group characteristics, and mutual willingness. The model's originality lies in specifying willingness as a multiplicative factor, demonstrating that integration requires engagement from both immigrants and host societies. Through analysis of feedback mechanisms, the model identifies three equilibrium states (high integration, low integration and unstable equilibrium) emerging from virtuous and vicious cycles. A simulation‐based illustration shows how small changes in willingness can trigger systemic shifts, highlighting the threshold‐sensitive nature of integration dynamics. By bridging sociological insight and formal modelling, the framework contributes to theoretical precision and offers policy guidance that emphasises mutual adaptation and the cumulative dynamics of integration outcomes.