The paper analyses residential mobility and neighbourhood choice of Turkish-origin homeowners in Germany. The research focuses on the decision-making processes of the Turkish-origin second generation either to stay in low-income neighbourhoods or to leave their ‘old’ residential environment. Findings illustrate coping strategies the households develop to deal with drawbacks. The analysis is based on 30 in-depth interviews with Turkish-origin households in the city of Duisburg. Research findings indicate three different dimensions, which shape decisions: the ‘family orientation’, the ‘social positioning’ and the ‘investment strategy’ of the households. The decision either to stay or to leave is followed by several coping strategies that are exercised in order to overcome perceived disadvantages. The set of strategies ranges from bridging out of the neighbourhood to local boundary-making in social and spatial terms. These coping strategies provide important clues for understanding the residential satisfaction of both stayers and leavers.
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