Beyond Integration: Measuring the Quality of Life of People with a Migration Background Using the Capabilities Approach

Grounded in the normative theories of Martha Nussbaum and the human development or capabilities approach, I propose the concept of quality of life (QoL) as a novel lens through which to examine immigrant-inclusion policies. QoL goes beyond the usual lens of integration and is applicable to all people with a migration background, and equally to those without, making it ideal for assessing the impact of local policies. This paper empirically tests a new measure of QoL I created, using the capabilities approach, against existing measures of integration in a case study of Barcelona, considered an ideal case of city-level integration. With a nonrandom sample of 20 adults whose parents immigrated from outside Spain, I employ participatory research and perform semi-structured interviews to measure my interviewees’ QoL according to my validated list of human capabilities and compare it with their integration according to standard EU indicators. The results of my analysis highlight mental health and the lack of choice for people with a migration background, which includes control over their time as well as their political and material environment. This measurement also draws attention to the importance of going beyond the individual to look at their loved ones and community. These findings offer insights for migration scholars and policymakers as Europe’s population with a migrant background continues to grow.