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A Comparative Analysis of the Nativity Wealth Gap

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Author Info
Thomas K. Bauer () (RWI Essen, Ruhr-University Bochum and IZA)
Deborah A. Cobb-Clark () (Australian National University and IZA)
Vincent Hildebrand () (Glendon College, York University and CEPS/INSTEAD)
Mathias Sinning () (RWI Essen and IZA)

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Abstract

This paper investigates the source of the gap in the relative wealth position of immigrant households residing in Australia, Germany and the United States. Our results indicate that in Germany and the United States wealth differentials are largely the result of disparity in the educational attainment and demographic composition of the native and immigrant populations, while income differentials are relatively unimportant in understanding the nativity wealth gap. In contrast, the relatively small wealth gap between Australian- and foreign-born households exists because immigrants to Australia do not translate their relative educational and demographic advantage into a wealth advantage. On balance, our results point to substantial cross-national disparity in the economic well-being of immigrant and native families, which is largely consistent with domestic labor markets and the selection policies used to shape the nature of the immigration flow.

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Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 2772.

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Length: 52 pages
Date of creation: May 2007
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Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp2772

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Related research
Keywords: international migration; wealth accumulation;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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    Other versions:
  2. Deborah A. Cobb-Clark & Steve Stillman, 2006. "The Retirement Expectations of Middle-Aged Individuals," CEPR Discussion Papers 540, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University. [Downloadable!]
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  3. Wolff, Edward N, 1998. "Recent Trends in the Size Distribution of Household Wealth," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 131-50, Summer. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Deborah A. Cobb-Clark & Vincent A. Hildebrand, 2006. "The Portfolio Choices of Hispanic Couples," IZA Discussion Papers 1948, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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  5. Augustin de Coulon & François-Charles Wolff, 2006. "The Location of Immigrants at Retirement: Stay/Return or ‘Va-et-Vient’?," IZA Discussion Papers 2224, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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  22. Coulson, N. Edward, 1999. "Why Are Hispanic- and Asian-American Homeownership Rates So Low?: Immigration and Other Factors," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 209-227, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  30. Bauer, Thomas & Kunze, Astrid, 2004. "The Demand for High-Skilled Workers and Immigration Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 4274, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, RSS feed, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Mathias Sinning, 2007. "Wealth and Asset Holdings of Immigrants in Germany," Ruhr Economic Papers 0030, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. John Gibson & Trinh Le & Steven Stillman, 2007. "What Explains the Wealth Gap between Immigrants and the New Zealand Born?," Working Papers in Economics 07/02, University of Waikato, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Baron, Juan & Cobb-Clark, Deborah, 2008. "Occupational Segregation and the Gender Wage Gap in Private- and Public-Sector Employment: A Distributional Analysis," IZA Discussion Papers 3562, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
  4. Thomas K. Bauer & Mathias G. Sinning, 2009. "The Purpose of Remittances – Evidence from Germany," Ruhr Economic Papers 0109, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen. [Downloadable!]
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  5. Andreas Knabe & Steffen Rätzel & Stephan L. Thomsen, 2009. "Right-Wing Extremism and the Well-Being of Immigrants," CESifo Working Paper Series 2841, CESifo Group Munich. [Downloadable!]
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  6. Mathias Sinning, 2007. "Determinants of Savings and Remittances – Empirical Evidence from Immigrants to Germany," Ruhr Economic Papers 0023, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen. [Downloadable!]
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  7. Christian Dustmann & Josep Mestres, 2010. "Savings, Asset Holdings, and Temporary Migration," CReAM Discussion Paper Series 1005, Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM), Department of Economics, University College London. [Downloadable!]
  8. Deborah A. Cobb-Clark & Vincent A. Hildebrand, 2008. "The Asset Portfolios of Native-born and Foreign-born Households," CEPR Discussion Papers 567, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University. [Downloadable!]
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