A Distributional Analysis of Earnings Assimilation of Immigrants in United States: 1994-2008
Open Access
Author:
Wang, Xiaozhou
Graduate Program:
Sociology
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
June 07, 2012
Committee Members:
John Iceland, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor John Iceland, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Glenn A Firebaugh, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Emily Kate Greenman, Committee Member Ralph Salvador Oropesa, Committee Member Suet Ling Pong, Committee Member
Keywords:
earnings distribution assimilation immigration entropy counterfactual
Abstract:
In this study the author applied an entropy-based index to measuring earnings assimilation at the distributional level, for Hispanic and Asian immigrants in United States, by gender and nativity status. Besides, the author investigated the mechanism of earnings assimilation for these immigrant groups by examining the contributions to overall assimilation through assimilation in productivity-related characteristics and assimilation in returns to characteristics, using quantile regression and counterfactual analysis methods.
Analyzing earnings data from the Current Population Survey March Supplements from 1994 to 2008, the author tested competing assimilation models and perspectives. It is found that, overall, the Asian immigrants, the second and the third generation Hispanic immigrants are well assimilated. The majority of the first generation Hispanic men and women are yet to be fully assimilated both in productivity-related characteristics and in returns to characteristics. The foreign-born Asian men, being the exception among the Asian immigrants, deserve special attention, as their productivity-related characteristics are under-evaluated in the labor market.
