How much did immigrant "quality" decline in late nineteenth century America?

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How much did immigrant "quality" decline in late nineteenth century America?

Author Info

Timothy J. Hatton () (Department of Economics, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK)

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Timothy James Hatton

Abstract

Early twentieth century observers argued that recent American immigrants were inferior, and in particular less skilled, than the old. I estimate wage equations for 1909 allowing for different effects by nationality and for different characteristics on arrival. I then apply the estimated wage differentials to the immigrant composition to measure the effect of changing composition on immigrant earnings. Finally I ask how immigrant earning power changed relative to that of native Americans. I conclude that immigrant "quality" in terms of earnings did decline due to shifting composition but these effects are very small compared with those reported in studies of the post-second World War period.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Springer in its journal Journal of Population Economics.

Volume (Year): 13 (2000)
Issue (Month): 3 ()
Pages: 509-525
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Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:13:y:2000:i:3:p:509-525

Note: Received: 1 September 1997/Accepted: 6 June 1998
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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities and Races; Non-labor Discrimination
J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, and Vacancies - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
N11 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Growth and Fluctuations - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

Cited by:
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Timothy J. Hatton & Andrew Leigh, 2007. "Immigrants Assimilate as Communities, Not Just as Individuals," IZA Discussion Papers 2538, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
Other versions:
- Timothy J. Hatton & Andrew Leigh, 2007. "Immigrants Assimilate as Communities, not just as Individuals," CEPR Discussion Papers 547, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University. [Downloadable!]
Timothy J. Hatton & Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2005. "A Dual Policy Paradox: Why Have Trade and Immigration Policies Always Differed in Labor-Scarce Economies," NBER Working Papers 11866, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Other versions:
- Timothy J. Hatton & Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2006. "A Dual Policy Paradox: Why Have Trade and Immigration Policies Always Differed in Labor-Scarce Economies?," IZA Discussion Papers 2146, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
- Hatton, Timothy J. & Williamson, Jeffrey G, 2006. "A Dual Policy Paradox: Why Have Trade and Immigration Policies Always Differed in Labour-Scarce Economies?," CEPR Discussion Papers 5443, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)

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