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The Role Of Human Capital In Language Acquisition Among Immigrants In U.S. Metropolitan Areas

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  • Waldorf, Brigitte S.
  • Beckhusen, Julia
  • Florax, Raymond J.G.M.
  • de Graaff, Thomas

Abstract

Segregation by race, ethnicity and income is a persistent feature of U.S. cities and communities, and ethnic enclaves have formed ever since immigration became more diverse. For low-skilled immigrants in particular, settling in an ethnic enclave may offer important opportunities and facilitate coping with the new environment. However, immigrant enclaves may also foster occupational segregation and retard assimilation, with the willingness to invest in language acquisition playing a key role. This paper expands on earlier work focusing on the linkage between spatial segregation and language acquisition. Using data from the 2000 U.S. Census the study stratifies immigrants by their location in one of four metropolitan areas by educational attainment and national origin in order to determine the effect of these individual characteristics on English proficiency. The probability of speaking English was found to vary across the four locales and educational attainment. Language acquisition was highest in the metropolitan area where the immigrant share is smallest, and is increasing in educational attainment.

Suggested Citation

  • Waldorf, Brigitte S. & Beckhusen, Julia & Florax, Raymond J.G.M. & de Graaff, Thomas, 2009. "The Role Of Human Capital In Language Acquisition Among Immigrants In U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Working papers 48643, Purdue University, Department of Agricultural Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:puaewp:48643
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.48643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul W. Miller & Barry R. Chiswick, 2002. "Immigrant earnings: Language skills, linguistic concentrations and the business cycle," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 15(1), pages 31-57.
    2. Paul W. Miller & Barry R. Chiswick, 1999. "Language skills and earnings among legalized aliens," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 63-89.
    3. Edward P. Lazear, 1999. "Culture and Language," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 107(S6), pages 95-126, December.
    4. Barry R. Chiswick, 1998. "Hebrew language usage: Determinants and effects on earnings among immigrants in Israel," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 11(2), pages 253-271.
    5. Borjas, George J., 1998. "To Ghetto or Not to Ghetto: Ethnicity and Residential Segregation," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 228-253, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brigitte Waldorf, 2011. "The Location of Foreign Human Capital in the United States," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 25(4), pages 330-340, November.

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