There are more refugees globally now than at any time since WWII. I use Phillimore’s opportunity structures from the refugee studies literature with popular ideas from the sociology of immigration literature like New Assimilation Theory to examine three: different indicators of economic integration: (1) whether a refugee finds a job in their first year, (2) economic self-sufficiency— the non-use of public assistance programs, and (3) weekly working hours. Economic integration–a common concern in immigration research and refugee policy–is a multi-dimensional concept that is proof of and supports other forms of integration. The assumption is that if immigrants and refugees are able to achieve financial success, then they are capable of financing their other needs and personal goals. Research on refugees' economic integration, however, is limited by data availability. This study uses the Annual Survey of Refugees-- a representative, recently available dataset-- to test if refugees are blank slates, or if their previous experiences and human capital contribute to their economic integration. This work has implications for recent public debates, policy, and theory related to refugee resettlement. Many native-born Americans have expressed renewed concern towards foreigners and their use of public assistance programs. I found that human capital and contexts both affect economic integration, though no predictor is significant for every aspect of economic integration. With a few exceptions, I do not find evidence to suggest that refugees are blank slates when examining these outcomes.
