Refugee Resettlement as an Urban Development Tool in Deindustrialized Cities: A Case of Pittsburgh, PA

Sociology Ph.D. candidate Jake Watson, under the advisement of Sociology Professor Julian Go, will examine the socioeconomic impact of refugee resettlement on local community and micro-economies through an in-depth case study of the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He seeks to identify evidence-based best practices for the use of refugee settlement as a development tool in deindustrialized cities.

Watson’s research will address mechanisms for building stable, resilient and inclusive communities, with a particular focus on:

• Effective management of conflicts and tensions between newcomers and long-term residents
• Diversity and inclusion as determinants of neighborhood success
• Policies that maximize socioeconomic benefits of refugees
• Factors and policies conditioning outcomes, including the transformative potential of resettlement

He will conduct his research through interviews and volunteer activities with Welcoming Pittsburgh, interviews and focus groups with long-term residents and refugees, and analysis of municipal data.

View more projects funded through our Early Stage Urban Research Awards