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Economics of Minority Groups: Labour Market Returns and Transmission of Indigenous Languages

Author

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  • de la Fuente Stevens, Diego

    (University of Sussex)

  • Pelkonen, Panu

    (University of Sussex)

Abstract

This study demonstrates a series of links between minority language skills, their economic return and their transmission across generations. Using a detailed matching procedure and different data sources, we estimate the likelihood of being employed for bilingual versus monolingual men for a large number of Mexican indigenous groups. We find that for indigenous groups, retaining the minority language along with Spanish increases employment opportunities. Furthermore, we show that the languages that are associated with larger labour market benefits are more likely to be passed on from parents to children, controlling for other factors. Overall, this study shows that the continuity of minority languages across generations is linked to concrete economic benefits, labour market specialisation, and insurance value, along with the usual social factors within the family and the community.

Suggested Citation

  • de la Fuente Stevens, Diego & Pelkonen, Panu, 2021. "Economics of Minority Groups: Labour Market Returns and Transmission of Indigenous Languages," IZA Discussion Papers 14539, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14539
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    intergenerational transmission; language skills; bilingualism; return to skills; minority languages; indigenous group;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J4 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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