Weak Ties and Ethnic Inequalities in the Singaporean Labour Market

Abstract

Applying Granovetter?s theoretical framework on the strength of weak ties, this thesis examines how ethnic inequality in the Singaporean labour market has been formed due to deficits in weak ties, specifically in ethnic minorities. Accordingly, using the World Values Survey (WVS) data set on Singapore in 2002, my first objective is to document categorical differences among ethnic groups in terms of their socioeconomic status. I will show that these differences correspond with variations in their frequency of interaction with weak ties and their membership in social organizations. By employing correlation and multinomial regression analyses, my second aim is to test the impact of weak ties in achieving occupational success and whether it varies across ethnic groups. I maintain that weak ties matter significantly after controlling for human capital and assist in explicating the variations in status attainment process among ethnic groups in Singapore. Succinctly, this essay demonstrates the close correspondence between the access to weak ties and ethnic inequalities in the labour market. Hence, this paper would be of interest to scholars concerned with the intertwining of social stratification with social capital and ethnicity.